Georgia Supreme Court: Life sentence stands in Glynn Co. case tied to shooting of ex-girlfriend, and murder of her new boyfriend

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction of Rodriquez Lamont Hamilton in a Glynn County case stemming from the 2022 shooting death of 24-year-old Jamarius Cowart and the wounding of Allysia Bryant.

The suspect and the female victim share two children together. Cowart was the father of two children from a separate relationship.

In a March opinion from the GA Supreme Court, the court affirmed Hamilton’s felony murder and related convictions from his December 2023 jury trial.

Hamilton was found guilty of felony murder for killing Cowart, aggravated assault for shooting Bryant, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He was sentenced on Dec. 21, 2023, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for felony murder, plus consecutive prison terms totaling 30 additional years.

The case centers on the Nov. 2, 2022 drive-by shooting at the intersection of Crispen Boulevard and Old Jesup Road in Brunswick.

According to District Attorney Keith Higgins, “On the night of November 2nd, Bryant told her ex she was going to church. At the time, Bryant and her ex, Hamilton, were still staying in the same residence together. Instead, she went to 1800 Mexican Restaurant in Brunswick to see Cowart, who was a waiter there. After Cowart finished his shift, the woman began to drive him back to his apartment, off of Crispen Boulevard. Surveillance video from various businesses along Crispen Boulevard showed Hamilton’s silver F150 turn onto Crispen Boulevard minutes before she did in her vehicle. Hamilton then parked next to the Winn-Dixie and waited for his ex to pass by.”

“Both Bryant and Cowart noticed her ex’s truck and saw him begin to follow them. While stopped at a red light at the intersection of Crispen Boulevard and Old Jesup Road, Hamilton pulled alongside the passenger side of her car. He then fired five rounds from a handgun into the open passenger side window of her car before driving off,” the District Attorney continued.

Cowart was shot multiple times and died at the scene; Bryant was shot in the back and later identified her children’s father as the shooter.

“Sadly this is another example of the not uncommon story of domestic violence, where the violence and the controlling behavior continues to escalate. In this case it culminated in a deadly shooting. Not only did the defendant shoot the mother of his own children, but he murdered a man who had nothing to do with their relationship. The shooting in this case was premeditated and cold blooded. Mr. Cowart was the father of two children who will now grow up without their father.”

Chief Assistant District Attorney Nigel Lush

The evidence at trial included surveillance video showing a silver pickup turning onto Crispen Boulevard minutes before her car, additional video showing the vehicles side by side at the intersection, and forensic evidence that shell casings and bullets were consistent with a Glock .40-caliber handgun.

A witness also testified that the suspect, Hamilton arrived at his house later that night and left his truck there. He later turned himself in with the assistance of counsel a month later.

On appeal, Hamilton argued the trial judge should have declared a mistrial after an emotional outburst from the victim’s family while body-camera video was played, and after a detective testified that Hamilton “was not willing to make a statement” when he surrendered.

The Supreme Court said the trial court acted within its discretion in denying mistrials, pointing to curative instructions given to jurors and noting juries are presumed to follow them.

Hamilton also challenged the admission of testimony about prior incidents involving his relationship with his ex girlfriend, including evidence of violence and controlling behavior.

“Evidence presented at trial showed that Hamilton and Bryant had been in a relationship since meeting in high school. Their relationship, as described by Bryant, was toxic. There was an extensive history of domestic violence as well as controlling behavior by Hamilton in the form of taking or damaging Bryant’s property. Hamilton also had a long history of cheating on Bryant with other women.

Six months prior to the shooting, Bryant started seeing Cowart, which angered Hamilton. On at least two occasions, he followed Bryant to Cowart’s (her new boyfriend’s) apartment. Approximately a week prior to the shooting, Hamilton and his ex girlfriend argued over her seeing Cowart, and the suspect punched her in the face."

District Attorney Keith Higgins

The Supreme Court concluded that at least some of that evidence was properly admitted as intrinsic evidence that helped explain context and motive, and said that even if the trial court erred in admitting some older incidents, any error was harmless.

The court also rejected Hamilton’s cumulative error argument and left the convictions and sentence in place. He began his sentence at Hays State Prison officially in January of 2024.