Copeland Sentenced to Life

Additional Reporting By LENDREZ GREENE
Talbot County resident Semaj Copeland was sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole in the murder of Manchester High student athlete Daryus Bryant on Thursday, July 23 in Muscogee County Superior Court.
Prosecutors stated in court that Copeland did not have a weapon in the April 20, 2024 shooting of Bryant in Columbus, but as the driver of the vehicle his actions led directly to Bryant’s death.
Bryant, an outstanding athlete, played football, basketball and ran track at Manchester High School. He was a track state champion.
Bryant was shot and killed only a few days before his 17th birthday in Columbus after attending the Manchester High prom on April 20, 2024.
Bryant was well known in his community, was a state track winner, a leader on the Manchester High football and basketball teams and was being recruited by several universities.
Bryant and Clarence Favors were both attending the school’s prom the night of the shooting. Favors received injuries in the shooting but survived.
Copeland, an outstanding athlete at Central Elementary/High School, was one of three people charged with Bryant’s murder and was a distant cousin of Bryant.
On May 26, in Muscogee County Court, Copeland, Jaquan Mahon and Zion Horton were convicted in the case.
Horton and Mahone were both found guilty of malice murder. Copeland was found not guilty on a charge of malice murder. All three teens were found guilty of felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault and five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
On June 23, Horton and Mahone returned to court for sentencing and both received life without the possibility of parole.
Copeland’s sentencing was postponed until July 23 due to his attorney, Mark Shelnutt, having had a conflict on June 23.