Young Gets 23 Years In North Chattanooga Murder

  • Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Abram "AB" Young pleaded guilty on Tuesday morning to a murder in North Chattanooga and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Young was 17 at the time of the 2015 slaying of 19-year-old Charles Holsey during a drug deal behind the Kangaroo on Dallas Road. He is now 20.

Prosecutor Cameron Williams said the sentence for second-degree murder will be served at 100 percent.

Young also received a concurrent eight-year sentence for attempted especially aggravated robbery.

Briston "BJ" Smith earlier went to trial in the case and was found guilty of felony murder. He got a life sentence.

According to testimony, Holsey would not give up his marijuana when Smith tried to grab it. A female who was in the car said Smith then ordered Young to shoot Holsey.

Prosecutor Williams said Young fired several shots that struck the victim in the back and buttocks.

He drove his car for a short distance on North Market Street, then it crashed. He died after being taken to a hospital.

The prosecutor said the main evidence against Young would have come from a couple who drove Smith and Young to the scene. He said that proof would have provided corroboration.

One item of that would have been a letter found at the jail that Young is believed to have written. In the letter, he asked an unknown person to kill the couple who drove them to the scene and who would testify against him. Judge Barry Steelman had agreed to allow that testimony.

It was noted that the letter was never mailed.

The prosecutor said Young never gave a statement to police as Smith had done.

Dr. Tanja Holsey, mother of the victim, made a statement in which she said her life was forever changed by the loss of her son.

However, she said she had forgiven Young for his actions and wanted him to make a better decision next time he was ordered to do something wrong.

It was noted that the whole case came about when an incorrect number was dialed by one digit. Holsey thought he was dealing with a white male named BJ he had known from Berry College. Instead it was Smith, a black male with the same nickname.

 

Breaking News
New Hope Fire Department Disputes TWRA Report On Kayaker Rescues
  • 3/28/2024

New Hope Fire Department Corey Comstock disputed a report by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency about the rescue of 33 kayakers from extremely high winds near Nickajack Cave on Monday. ... more

Motorcyclist Hit Speeds Of 170 MPH; Posted Video Of Outrunning Police
Motorcyclist Hit Speeds Of 170 MPH; Posted Video Of Outrunning Police
  • 3/28/2024

A motorcyclist fled on Sunday, from a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempting to make a lawful stop on Highway 27. Since that time, the deputy has been working leads to identify the ... more

Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 3/28/2024

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: ADERHOLT, FELICIA DAWN 1110 ST CLAIR ST DUNLAP, 37327 Age at Arrest: 37 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous ... more