Alleged murderer heads to court
By FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published 4:27 pm Sunday, November 13, 2016
By Melanie Ruberti
Melanie.ruberti@lagrangenews.com
LaGRANGE — The trial of Coby Jermaine Harden, 26, is set to begin this week in a Troup County Superior courtroom.
Harden was indicted by a grand jury in May for malice murder, felony murder, aggravate assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and six counts of violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act.
The 26-year-old was arrested on March 6 and charged with the murder of T'Quarius Holloway, 22, of LaGrange according to police reports. Holloway died at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta after he was shot several times in the first block of Spring Street on March 4.
According to the indictment, Harden is believed to be a member or known associate of the Bloods criminal street gang. The document stated he committed the murder with the intent to "maintain and increase his status and position in said gang."
Harden allegedly killed Holloway less than five hours after being released from the Troup County Jail, said jail officials.
According to documents obtained by the Daily News, Harden had been behind bars awaiting trial for another violent crime — a shooting on April 8, 2015.
Harden was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm and three counts of participation in a criminal street gang for allegedly shooting a man in front of the Daniel Street Food Market.
But the 26-year-old never went to trial after the victim refused to cooperate with investigators on the case. There was also insufficient evidence to prove Harden was the shooter, according to the Troup County District Attorney's office.
Documents show Harden was released from the Troup County Jail about 6:15 p.m. March 4. Police reports state roughly four hours and 43 minutes later — at 10:58 p.m. — LaGrange police officers were dispatched to Spring Street to respond to a call for shots fired – where they found Holloway lying in the roadway.
Harden also has been connected to other incidents. At the time of the 2015 shooting, he was also on probation for possession of marijuana, obstruction of law enforcement officers, simple battery and possession of cocaine, according to Troup County Superior Court documents.
The documents state Harden either pleaded guilty or was convicted of those charges in April 2012. He was sentenced to five years' probation and to complete a boot camp confinement program.
Harden violated the terms of his probation after his arrest for the 2015 shooting on Daniel Street, court documents show.
Meanwhile, Coby Harden's cousin, Demetrius Ladarius Harden, 26, was convicted in June on two counts of aggravated assault by a Troup County jury.
The jury said Harden shot or was driving the car for two yet-to-be-identified people who shot at least 24 bullets into a home in the 300 block of Wilkes Street in April, 2015.
One of those bullets struck T'Quarius Holloway, 20, in the side while he was inside the residence, Assistant District Attorney Jim Powers said.
Holloway is same victim Coby Harden is accused of allegedly shooting and killing less than a year later.
During that trial, Powers told the court both cousins were charged with aggravated assault before, when they were teens, but neither was ever convicted.
Judge Sakrison sentenced Demetrius Harden 40 years to serve 20 in prison.
Currently, Coby Harden remains in the Troup County Jail without bond.
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