Suspects in Oglethorpe Mall shooting appear in court today, awaiting trial

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - All six of the suspected Oglethorpe Mall shooters were in court today, Feb. 4, 2026, as their case moves toward a trial.

This shooting occurred on July 2nd, 2025, and caused nearly $40,000 in property damage to the mall.

One woman, Tina Smith, died from heart complications after running from the shooting.

Dahmil Johnson, Theron Robbins Jr, Jonathan Jones, Aujawan Hymon, Royce Hayned and Franklin James are all facing multiple felony charges.

WTOC was in the courtroom today as each of the six men stood in front of the Chief Judge with their attorneys.

A 71-count indictment in the case alleged the shootout stemmed from gang activity between two groups. The suspects’ attorneys said they want the gang-related evidence examined and potentially excluded from the case.

Each defendant’s lawyer went through their motions filed. They tried to exclude any gang-related testimony or evidence from the future jury of peers.

Prosecutors discussed GBI reports that are incoming while waiting on ballistic reports from the shooting. Both sides are waiting for the firearm analysis from that day to finish processing.

Some of the suspects filed to have a specific hearing with the gang expert.

The judge set a date with the legal counsel to have all the evidence and records in place by. He said he recognized the public’s interest in the case.

It will be several weeks before the case in back in court.

Since potential jurors watch WTOC, he is not allowing filming of the suspects in their jail clothes, no filming them in shackles, no filming them talking with their attorneys, and not filming them when they come in and out of the courtroom.

A ‘gang expert’ is still scheduled to provide his expert opinion. Attorneys are also looking to hear gang expert Jacob Hesting’s opinion on why this case has gang ties.

Some of their lawyers are also looking to question the medical expert on Ms. Smith’s autopsy and plan to argue how her death is tied to these suspects.

Any statements made by the men at the hospital are also likely to be thrown out by lawyers.

Kaitlyn Walker, Aujawan Hymon’s lawyer, filed the most, with 10 motions...Ranging from motion to compel gang expert opinion, to the constitutionality of the street gang act, and even excluding any of Hymon’s unindicted behavior (any acts he was seen or video’d doing aside from the mall).

Johnathan Jones’ attorney, Dennis O’Brien, filed just 1 so far- to just extend the time limit to submit motions. O’Brien asked the judge to adopt the other attorney’s motions. The Judge asked that he file his own.

The attorney for Royce Haynes, Skye Musson, filed to challenge the medical examiner’s opinion along with the gang expert.

The State told Judge Morse it will be about 10 weeks before evidence from the GBI will be back.

Franklin James’s attorney, Martin Hilliard, submitted motions to exclude gang expert testimony, along with suppressing any statements his client may have made while in the hospital.

Dahmil Johnson, who is represented by Jonah Pine, filed that same motion to exclude gang expert testimony, along with a genera/special demurrer on all counts of the indictment.

Two of the suspects, Theron Robbins Jr. and Dahmil Johnson, filed to separate their cases from the other suspects.

Theron Robbins Jr’s public defender, Katherine Kelly, filed a motion to reveal any deal made with other suspects, along with compelling any gang activity evidence, and motions to compel discovery-- which prosecutors said they are still waiting on too.

Below is a list of our coverage on this: