Union City man gets 15 years for Cobb shooting

After pleading guilty to two crimes related to a May 2022 shooting in south Cobb, Octavious Ricardo Ward has been sentenced to 15 years in jail by Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris who called the crime an “unprovoked unnecessary attack.”

Ward, 28, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In addition to the 15 years he received, the Union City man will serve 10 years of probation.

Cobb Police officers said they found a man shot twice in the back on the sidewalk near his apartment on Station Club Drive. 

The victim was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. Witnesses provided investigators with information on the suspect including the type of car he drove which was an early 2000s maroon Toyota Camry. The victim told officers that Ward — who followed him home — had made an appearance at his workplace earlier in the day with hopes of retrieving a mailbox key.

Said Prosecutors, “According to the victim, he was followed home from work by Ward.  Ward had shown up to the victim’s workplace earlier in the day and spoke with the victim’s co-worker, who was temporarily staying in the victim’s home. Ward repeatedly asked for the victim’s mailbox key and when he refused, Ward shot the victim in the back and fled.”

Police later learned that the co-worker staying with the victim had taken money from Ward in exchange for a shipment of marijuana. The victim was not aware of the drug exchange involving his co-worker and Ward, and he didn’t know why Ward asked for access to the mailbox.

Ward was arrested two days after the shooting in Gwinnett County after investigators were able to find Ward’s car using the county’s FLOCK license plate readers. After searching his vehicle, police found the gun used in the shooting and the clothing he wore during the incident.

Ward also sent a text admitting to the shooting which was discovered by police, prosecutors said. The victim was present in the courtroom during Ward’s plea hearing.

Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Raynor read his impact statement to the court. The victim has long-lasting injuries (the two bullets are still lodged in his spine), ongoing pain and continued emotional trauma.

Said Raynor, “Though more than a year has passed, the victim is still coping with the emotional and physical pain.”