Two teens plead not guilty in fatal Bloomingdale shooting

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A mother mourning the loss of her son watched as the two men accused of killing him went before a judge Wednesday.

Two teens charged with murdering Antonio Thornton Jr. appeared in court Wednesday in Chatham County.

Franklin Leonard James Jr. and Terrance Devon Green Jr. both pleaded not guilty to their charges, including felony murder and asked for a jury trial.

The courtroom was full of family members of Antonio Thornton Jr., known as TJ, who was shot and killed in December outside a Savannah apartment complex.

TJ’s family wanted to hear how Terrance Green and Franklin James Jr. would respond to their charges of shooting and killing TJ.

The GBI has charged both with felony murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery.

TJ’s mother said after the arraignment that she should be wearing a congratulations for graduating shirt instead of a goodbye one.

“Every day I’m crying for my child. I’m never gonna see him again. I’m never gonna see my child again. All I have is memories of TJ so you don’t expect the biggest day of graduation to be standing in front of the courtroom and you had two people that kill your child and they plead not guilty. That’s very hurtful,” said Tyesha Abdullah, TJ’s mother.

Both teens will return to court in July.