Muddy, wet and rusted, the gun that investigators had searched for in a fatal Hall County shooting was buried in the red Georgia clay, according to the prosecution’s opening statement 

Delwoun Quinntess Williams, of Hall County, was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, terroristic acts, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and participation in criminal street gang activity in a September grand jury indictment.

Assistant District Attorney Laura Lukert kicked off the trial after 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, saying Williams “fired two shots into the car where Cornelius Gordon was sitting.”

Gordon died from a gunshot wound.

“You are going to hear some things during this trial about Cornelius Gordon that you might not like,” Lukert said. “He was associated with a criminal street gang, the Gangster Disciples. You will also probably hear that he sold marijuana.”

Lukert said Gordon also went to a Bloods trap house, a place where drugs are bought and sold, shortly before the shooting.

People were gathered June 25 and in the early hours of June 26 for a party at a Barnes Drive trailer.

“People outside the trailer, people inside the trailer, most of those people have one thing in common: association with the Bloods gang,” Lukert said.

Defense attorney Brock Johnson said a dark-colored SUV stopped near the trailer that night, which seemed suspicious.

“All of the sudden … shots are fired,” Johnson said.

Crime scene technicians swept the area and found five shell casings, four of which came from one gun.

Lukert said Williams admitted to shooting a Smith and Wesson 9mm and running after the shooting in an interview with investigators

After further interviews, they were led to a residence where a 9 mm Smith and Wesson was found with a black plastic bag and a muddy wet white towel.

Johnson said his client spoke with investigators to clear his name for a crime “he knows he did not commit.”

Johnson and Williams claimed another person is responsible for the fatal shooting.

The state’s first witness was Jamie Compton, who testified on gang culture. Much of his testimony focused on the structure and culture of gangs.

The case is expected to start again Wednesday in Superior Court Judge Jason Deal’s courtroom.