The 2023 shooting death of Emmanuel Dorsey outside a rivalry football game has renewed focus on security and crowd control in Griffin.
GRIFFIN, Ga. — A Spalding County judge sentenced 19-year-old Kaomarion Lashaun Kendrick to life without parole, plus 85 years, this week for the Sept. 30, 2023 killing of 14-year-old Emmanuel Dorsey near Griffin Memorial Stadium after the Griffin–Spalding football game.
The outcome followed jury convictions on Jan. 30 for felony murder, aggravated assault, weapons violations and three counts under Georgia’s street gang statute. Prosecutors said the shooting erupted as two rival groups clashed in the street while families and students left the stadium. The case became a touchstone for safety at school events, pushing local leaders to reassess how thousands of people exit tight corridors and neighborhood streets after big games.
According to investigators, the fight spilled from the stands to the sidewalks along Taylor Street minutes after the game ended. Witnesses told police they heard several shots and watched teenagers scatter between parked cars and food stands. Dorsey, a Griffin High student, was struck while running and died despite rapid aid from first responders. “A Spalding County jury declared we won’t tolerate this violence,” Acting District Attorney David Studdard said, calling the verdict a community statement. Kendrick, who was 17 at the time, was arrested eight days later in Henry County after a regional search.
In court, prosecutors outlined surveillance footage, cell phone records and social media clips they said tied Kendrick to the scene and showed his movements before and after the gunfire. They told jurors a seized handgun had been modified with a device that increased its rate of fire. Defense counsel pushed back on characterizations of gang involvement and challenged eyewitness reliability, noting the crowd and confusion. The panel convicted on all major counts after multiple days of deliberation. Judge Benjamin D. Coker imposed life without parole, then stacked additional time for the remaining offenses.
Beyond the verdict, the case has accelerated planning for game-night logistics. Griffin police increased staffing at subsequent high school contests and reviewed routes that funnel fans to parking lots on neighborhood streets. School officials said they have coordinated with city crews on temporary closures and lighting around Griffin Memorial Stadium, emphasizing that most games end without incident. Residents near the venue described anxious months after the shooting but said visible patrols and clearer exit lanes have helped. “You still hear the band and see the lights,” said longtime neighbor Wayne Carter. “You just see more officers and cones at the corners now.”
During sentencing, Dorsey’s mother, Charlotte Williams, addressed the court, describing a family still learning to navigate birthdays and holidays without her son. She said the punishment was fair but lamented that two young lives were lost in different ways. Community members packed the gallery, some wearing school colors, others embracing quietly as the sentence was read. Outside, a small cluster of students left flowers near the stadium fence. City leaders called the conclusion a step toward closure while noting continued outreach with youth groups and mentorship programs.
The legal chapter now shifts to potential appeals. Kendrick remains in state custody; if his attorneys file a notice of appeal, the case record will be assembled for review by Georgia’s appellate courts. The district attorney’s office said it would finalize evidence returns and victim-services notifications in the coming days. No additional arrests have been announced from the stadium clash. Officials said their next update will come when the appeal timetable is set and the trial transcript is certified.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.