Teen gang member gets life for murdering fellow teen

Senseless teen violence in South Cobb resulted in a 17-year-old being sentenced to life in prison for killing a 16-year-old South Cobb High student in 2019.

Nearly two years after the incident, Myliek Ryshiem Dunn pled guilty to murdering 16-year-old Namir Kelly in Cobb County Superior Court. Dunn’s guilty pleas included admitting to malice murder and robbery upon the judge sentencing him to life in prison. Dunn also pled guilty to an unrelated robbery charge and was sentenced to 20 years, with the sentences to run concurrently, per court records.

Prior to the sentencing, parents of the victim shared their impact statements. Kelly’s mother said she is devastated by the loss her son but, forgives Dunn. Kelly’s father said his son had been deprived of the joys of growing into adulthood by Dunn.

The shooting occurred on May 11, 2019 after two groups gathered at the Chroma Park Apartments on Mesa Valley Way in Austell. Police say that Dunn, 15 at the time, pulled out a revolver following an exchange of words and shot Kelly in the chest. After killing Kelly, Dunn fled the scene on foot.

Police found evidence that Dunn and his friend were part of a gang named Rich Kid Nation that went by RKN. Authorities found evidence on his social media account that the gang had robbed and beaten another teen in April of 2019. Prior to the incident that has him serving a life sentence, Dunn had been accused of rape and molesting an 11-year-old girl in Austell between December 2017 and January 2018. The trial on these charges is still pending.

Said Senior Prosecutor ADA Paul Camarillo, “The DA’s Office is committed to doing all we can to motivate young people to choose a path away from gangs and violence, but we will absolutely hold gang members accountable for any violent crime they commit in Cobb County.”