ATHENS, GA — The final individual involved in a horrific, gang-motivated drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a 3-year-old toddler has been sent to prison, closing a painful legal chapter for an Athens family.
Nineteen-year-old Julian Cubillos pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for his role in the March 2024 attack that killed young Kyron Santino Zarco Smith. Cubillos was sentenced to 20 years behind bars, joining three co-defendants who were previously hit with mandatory life sentences for their roles in the senseless slaying.
A Hail of Bullets into a Living Room
The devastating incident occurred on the evening of March 8, 2024, at the Hallmark Mobile Home Park in Athens. Kyron, who had stayed home sick from daycare that day, was sitting on the living room couch watching television alongside his 9-year-old brother.
Outside, a vehicle carrying four individuals pulled up to the home and unleashed a barrage of gunfire.
- The Toll: Multiple bullets ripped through the walls of the mobile home. A single round struck 3-year-old Kyron in the chest, killing him. His 9-year-old brother sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
- The Mother’s Anguish: Their mother, Shanita Smith, had briefly stepped out to go to the store to buy Kyron his favorite candy. She was driving back when the shooting occurred. “I still got his gummies and dinner in my car,” Smith recalled through tears in a heartbreaking interview.
Targeted Over a Gang Status Dispute
An extensive investigation spearheaded by local police and the Georgia Attorney General’s Gang Task Force revealed that the toddlers were completely innocent bystanders caught in a gang war.
Prosecutors proved that three of the men—Desmontrez Mathis (24), Jayden Brown (18), and Dakious Echols (20)—were active members of the “Everybody Eats” (EBE) street gang.
The trio, driven by Cubillos, targeted the home hoping to execute a rival gang member—who turned out to be Kyron’s oldest teenage brother—solely to “increase their status” within the EBE hierarchy.
[Image showcasing a legal gavel resting on top of Georgia state court indictment documents]
The Burden of Survival
While the mother expressed immense relief following the final court outcomes, she noted that the family has been forced to relocate far away from Athens to escape the trauma.
She also shared that her oldest son carries a crushing, overwhelming burden of survival guilt, knowing that an ongoing dispute he was involved in ultimately drew violent strangers to their front door. “He’s hurting as well… It was senseless. It still don’t make sense,” Smith said.
Sentences Handed Down
The Georgia Attorney General’s Office noted that Cubillos received a significantly lighter 20-year term because he acted strictly as the driver, did not pull a trigger, and fully cooperated with state prosecutors to secure convictions against the shooters.
| Defendant Name | Age | Primary Convictions | Final Sentence |
| Desmontrez Mathis | 24 | Malice Murder, Gang Activity | Life in Prison |
| Jayden Brown | 18 | Malice Murder, Gang Activity | Life in Prison |
| Dakious Echols | 20 | Malice Murder, Gang Activity | Life in Prison |
| Julian Cubillos | 19 | Voluntary Manslaughter | 20 Years in Prison |
“This was a senseless shooting that should have never occurred, and it’s exactly why we cannot let up in the fight against gang activity,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement following the final plea. “Our children deserve better, Georgia families deserve better, and the people of Athens deserve better.”
With gang-related drive-by shootings increasingly claiming the lives of completely innocent young children inside their own homes, do you believe state laws should mandate automated life sentences without parole for any gang member whose crossfire strikes a minor?
Share your thoughts on community safety and gang crackdowns in the comments below.
