Smyrna man sentenced to life in prison following the death of his friend

A jury found a Cobb County man guilty on multiple charges, including malice murder.

Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady said in a news release that Carl Crawford, 32, of Smyrna was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for killing 27-year-old Juanita McFadden.

Crawford will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his close friend by shooting her multiple times. Last week he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Prosecutors described the two as close friends for 10 years who had lived together off and on for several years. According to the D.A., Crawford and McFadden got into a fight in November 2020. Crawford pulled out a handgun and shot McFadden, who was his longtime friend and former roommate, nine times. Crawford remained at the scene following the murder and admitted to police that he shot his friend.