Horton, Mahone Sentenced

Additional Reporting by LENDREZ GREENE
Zion Horton and Jaquan Mahone, residents of Talbot County, appeared in Muscogee County Superior Court on Tuesday, June 23 to be sentenced in the murder of Daryus Bryant of Manchester. Both were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Horton and Mahone were both found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault and five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Semaj Copeland, also a Talbot resident and a distant cousins of Bryant, was not in court on Tuesday and has been rescheduled for sentencing on Aug. 23. It was noted that Copeland’s attorney had a conflict and could not appear in court. Copeland was found guilty on charges of malice murder, three counts of aggravated assault and five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Copeland
Bryant was shot and killed only a few days before his 17 birthday in Columbus after attending the school’s 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, both were attending the school’s prom the night os the shooting. Favors received injuries in the shooting but luckily survived.
Mahone was arrested in the case and was taken into custody on July 21, 2025, Copeland turned himself in to the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office on July 8 and Horton was taken into custody in Coweta County on July 3.