Teen sentenced to 50 years in prison after a shooting at a Warner Robins party

A teenager has been sentenced to 50 years in prison in connection to a fatal shooting at a Warner Robins street party, according to the Houston County district attorney.

Javontae Ridley, 17, of Warner Robins, was convicted on five counts of aggravated assault last week and sentenced to prison time plus 35 years of probation by Superior Court Judge G.E. Adams.

The shooting left Tanyla Johnson dead and caused injuries to four other people, according to officials.

The District Attorney’s Office said Ridley attended a street party on Mauldon Court in Warner Robins. While at the party, Ridley and others began shooting indiscriminately into a crowd of high school and college students.

Johnson was shot in the chest and died. Four other victims sustained non-fatal gunshot wounds, according to police.

Houston County Assistant District Attorney Greg Winters said Ridley was 15 years old when he decided to take a handgun to a party and negatively impacted the lives of all those who attended.

“The complete lack of concern he showed when he began firing into the crowd shows a level of heartlessness that unfortunately seems to be increasing in our society,” he said.

District Attorney William Kendall said this was one of the many crime scenes he had visited personally.

“The aftermath left behind stretched down the entire street and all that was left was the remanence of devastation brought by this Defendant and his heinous, selfish acts. Although we cannot undo what has been done, we hoped to have helped provide closure to the family and victims,” he said.

“I also pray this conviction will send a message to our youth that there are real world consequences for our actions. Mr. Ridley now knows the consequences for his actions--life behind bars for the next few decades.”