Former DeKalb County 5th grade teacher convicted of murdering 2 children

Written by: A. Smith

Published February 11, 2026 @ 10:19 AM ET

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. – A former DeKalb County elementary school teacher has been convicted of murdering two children in a 2016 gang retaliation shooting that claimed the lives of an 11-year-old girl and her 15-year-old brother.

Michael De’Sean White, 26, was found guilty on all 44 counts against him, Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley confirmed.

Tatiyana Coates, 11, and Daveon Coates, 15, were killed in gang-related gunfire on Libby Lane nearly 10 years ago. Mosley said neither child had any gang affiliation and were innocent victims of a gang retaliation incident.

White, identified by authorities as a member of the Rolling 20s Crips gang, was teaching fifth grade at Toney Elementary School at the time of the murders. He was arrested at the school in 2018 by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Task Force.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney La’Carrian Blount said gang members were looking for a teen who had stolen guns from their stronghold, but was not home when White kicked in the door.

Blount said White carried a shotgun into the home, though others fired the fatal shots that killed the children.

Documents obtained during the investigation contained allegations from a known Crips member who identified White as one of the “shooters” responsible for the deaths. A sketch of a man seen at the murder scene, created by Georgia Bureau of Investigation forensic artist Kelly Lawson, played a key role in building the case against White.

White’s attorney at the time of his arrest, Nicole Fegan, denied the gang allegations and said White became a teacher because he wanted to help students.

“He wants to get people out of the urban lifestyle and make something of themselves ’cause that’s what he did,” Fegan said in 2018.

White had taught fifth grade at Toney Elementary since August 2017 and began with the DeKalb County School District as a paraprofessional in March 2017. He was removed from the school following his arrest.

Several gang members have been convicted or pleaded guilty in the case. White was the final defendant to stand trial.

A sentencing date has not been set.