DECATUR — Two Decatur street gang members who were involved in a shooting targeting a rival gang — violence that prompted authorities to lock down a city school — have been sentenced to probation.
Mishawn A. Swanson, 20, was given 18 months probation and Qwantavis O. Bradford, 20, was sentenced to 24 months probation. Both were also given 180 day jail sentences but those were canceled out with credit for the 180 days they’ve spent in custody since their arrest on the day of the shooting, which dates to Sept. 19, 2023.
Patrol cops had been called to the 1100 block of East Leafland Avenue around 2:20 p.m. after bursts of gunfire were seen coming from a passing car. The violence was within four blocks of Hope Academy, which had been locked down for a time while officers made sure the surrounding streets were safe.
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A sworn affidavit from Decatur Police said the area targeted by the shots is a known hangout of Decatur’s East Side Gang, which was locked in a feud with the rival South Side gang, also known as the “Moes.”
The affidavit, signed by Officer Clayton Zilz, said police soon identified the vehicle involved as being driven by known South Side member Michael A. Swanson. His twin brother Mishawn was riding with him, as was Bradford.
Michael Swanson is accused of trying to flee by ramming a squad car after the car was cornered by cops. He then fled on foot but was soon chased down and caught, as were his brother and Bradford.
Mishawn Swanson had denied charges of the aggravated and reckless discharge of a gun, along with further counts of possession of a firearm by a gang member and possession of a gun by a felon.
The defendant was due to face a bench trial March 21 but changed his mind and took a plea deal when he appeared before Presiding Judge Thomas Griffith in Macon County Circuit Court on March 20.
He was given the probation sentence after admitting the aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and the other charges were dismissed. A check of his record shows he had only recently been released from prison at the time of the shooting after serving 18 months on a November 2022 conviction for the aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Bradford had been facing the same charges and his case had been listed for a jury trial April 15. But he had appeared in court March 21 and also pleaded guilty to the aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in return for having the other charges dismissed.
Michael Swanson, denying identical offenses but with the addition of being accused of being an armed habitual criminal, remains in the custody of the Macon County Jail and is scheduled to be tried by a jury on April 15.
A check of Swanson’s criminal record shows he had been released on parole from the Lincoln Correctional Center four days before the shooting incident. He had been sentenced to 18 months in prison in March of 2022 after being convicted of the aggravated unlawful use of a gun.