The trial for a 32-year-old Rome man – accused of shooting another man in the restroom of the Rome Civic Center – during a Christmas Party held in 2022, is set to begin Monday (January 8th, 2024)

Desmion Deaundre Diamond faces charges of malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon – stemming from the shooting death of Demond Glynn at the party.  On Wednesday, Floyd County Superior Court Chief Judge John “Jack” Niedrach denied a motion to push back that trial date and, earlier this week had denied a motion to block Diamond’s prosecution on a self-defense claim.

According to court records – at the beginning of the party – Diamond and Glynn, whose families have had bad blood in the past, were cordial.  Apparently Diamond said something to Glynn’s girlfriend and Glynn then physically confronted her in the parking lot – about her interaction with Diamond.  He then went back into the civic center, onto the dance floor – confronting Diamond.  They reportedly agreed to settle their differences in the bathroom and, once there, began arguing.

Diamond described the encounter in a December 26th of 2022 interview with Rome Police Department investigator Tony Yarbrough.

According to that indictment, Diamond told police he shot at Glynn three times; Diamond also told police he’d brought the gun for protection after a member of Glynn’s family killed his younger brother, Derricus Smith in May of 2022.  Police suspect that, while fleeing, Diamond tossed the gun, which has not been found.  He then turned himself in to police later that evening and he was initially charged with aggravated assault among other crimes.  Glynn died as a result of his wounds in January of 2023, prosecutors then indicted Diamond on Murder charges.

The specially set trial is scheduled to begin next Monday (January 8th) in Floyd County Superior Court at 9:00am.

(ROME NEWS TRIBUNE in Rome, Georgia)