NORCROSS, Ga. — Editor's note: The video above is from previous coverage of this story.
Two men are facing life in prison for their roles in a 2020 fatal home invasion in Gwinnett County, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Corey Arnell Myart, 24, of Fayetteville, and Gabriel Morales, 23, of Norcross, were both convicted on multiple charges in connection to the shooting death of Malik Werts.
Myart was convicted of felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and felony home invasion, while Morales was found guilty of two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
“Bad deeds have consequences, and this verdict holds to that philosophy,” stated Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin Gatson. “These men must be held accountable for their decisions to attempt an armed robbery that ended with someone dying. We sympathize with Mr. Werts’ family and will continue to seek justice.”
The incident began when Morales and Myart learned that Werts’ roommate sometimes sold marijuana and had large amounts at their Norcross apartment on Ashley Lakes Drive.
They planned to rob the roommate and, in the early morning of the incident, approached the roommate as he was loading a U-Haul truck. After a brief interaction, the roommate returned to the apartment, only for Myart and Morales to burst in armed with handguns shortly after.
During the robbery, Morales forced the roommate to the floor while Myart searched the apartment. The roommate then heard gunfire erupt from the room where Werts was. A witness saw the two men fleeing in a black car and called the police.
An investigation, which included witness statements and social media, identified Myart and Morales as the gunmen. The vehicle used in the escape was also traced back to Myart's younger brother, 23-year-old Cobe Myart, who is also charged and awaiting trial.
Sentencing will occur at a later date, the district attorney's office said.