A Georgia man is facing a possible life sentence after a jury needed only 35 minutes to convict him of murdering his ex-girlfriend in front of their 5-month-old baby. Shawn Bolden Jr. was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and a weapons charge in the 2021 killing of 29-year-old Deanna Ellison, according to the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Bolden emptied his 9mm revolver into Ellison, reloaded, and continued to shoot her even after she was already dead.
Ellison had ended the relationship after Bolden slapped her on Mother’s Day in 2020 when she invited her mother over for dinner; she was three months pregnant at the time. Although the couple had split, they agreed to co-parent their baby after he was born. Nearly a year later, on May 6, 2021, neighbors called police after hearing gunfire and someone fleeing Ellison’s home. First responders forced their way inside and found Ellison dead, with her infant nearby on the bed, crying and nearly stuck in the headboard.
An anonymous caller soon reported that Bolden had confessed to the shooting. Officers later located him roughly 100 miles away, leading to a high-speed chase across two counties before state troopers disabled his vehicle and arrested him. Investigators said Bolden lied repeatedly during questioning and showed no concern for his son or Ellison.
District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones said the murder underscores the importance of strengthening victim-focused units within her office, and she pledged continued support for families affected by violent crime. Bolden’s sentencing is set for January 9, and prosecutors plan to seek life imprisonment without parole.
Ellison’s obituary described her as someone with a vibrant personality, a generous spirit, and a distinctive laugh and smile that brought joy to those around her.
