The September jury trial for the six individuals allegedly involved in last year’s Oglethorpe Mall shooting has been postponed.
In July 2025, six people allegedly opened fire at one another inside the Oglethorpe Mall. While no mall patrons were shot, prosecutors argue the chaos caused the death of bystander Olislene “Tina” Smith, who suffered cardiac arrest after experiencing extreme distress.
According to court documents, the motion hearing, originally scheduled for early June, has been reset for Sept. 21 — the date the jury trial was originally set to begin. A new jury trial date has not been set.
Chatham County Superior Court Chief Judge John Morse was eager to try the case this year, telling the six attorneys in April that they needed to settle
a realistic date ahead of the holiday season.
“I’m tired of waiting,” Judge Morse said in court in late-April. “What is a realistic time to get this trial before a jury? And I would suggest something in 2026.”
The Sept. 21 motion hearing will now examine the reliability of testimony from the prosecution's gang expert and the medical examiner, who ruled Smith’s death a homicide.
For the meantime, Dahmil Johnson, 16, Franklin James, 16, Royce Haynes, 17, Jonathan Jones, 20, Theron Robbins, 20, and Aujawan Hymon, 20, (ages at time of arrest) will wait in the Chatham County Jail ahead of their trial.
Each individual faces 71 charges from the shooting — including possession of a firearm, street gang activity, aggravated assault and felony murder.
Ansley Franco is a reporter with the Savannah Morning News, covering public safety and general assignments. You can reach her at AFranco@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Oglethorpe Mall shooting trial delayed, no new date set
