NEWNAN, Ga. — A 19-year-old man has turned himself in to police after a teen reported missing from Alabama was found dead in a car parked on Spring Street. Police have also released more information about his death.
Malenko A. Cooley, 18, was reported missing from Valley, Alabama on Jan. 19.
According to Newnan Police, Cooley and a friend went to the Newnan Crossing Apartments off Parkway North on Jan. 20. At some point, officers were called for reports of shots fired.
Police learned that Cooley and Marquavious Harris, 19, went to the apartment to ask a resident to keep a gun for them. After they arrived, the resident told police he felt as if Cooley and Harris were going to rob him and got into a physical fight with Cooley in the apartment hallway.
While the two men were fighting, Harris pulled out a pistol and began shooting at the resident, hitting him several times in the abdomen, police said. Cooley fell on top of the resident and jumped up when the gunshots stopped. Cooley and Harris ran from the apartment and the resident called 911, police said. A Kia registered to a relative of Cooley’s was seen leaving the area and traveling southbound on I-85.
The resident, who has not been identified due to safety reasons, was taken to an Atlanta hospital and underwent several medical procedures. He is now recovering, police said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, LaGrange Police notified Newnan Police that they located an abandoned car on Spring Street. Cooley was found dead in the backseat from an apparent gunshot wound. Later that day, LaGrange Police notified Newnan officers that Harris, a suspect in Cooley’s death, turned himself in to police and said he was involved in the teen’s death.
Harris is currently behind bars at Troup County Jail for concealing the death of another. Newnan Police are in the process of securing warrants for murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and other charges.
