District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Friday, February 23, 2024, a Glynn County jury found Alvin Eddie Canidate, 22, of Brunswick, Georgia, guilty of two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict as to his co-defendant, so a mistrial was declared as to his case by Chief Judge Stephen G. Scarlett Sr. A second co-defendant in the case had previously plead guilty and testified at trial.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on December 5, 2020, at approximately 5:00 pm, the defendants in the case contacted the victim via Snapchat to purchase half an ounce of marijuana the victim had advertised for sale. The victim was directed to the Risley Annex Building to meet up, where he was met by Canidate and the first co-defendant, who then directed him to a house at 3001 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which was across the street from the Risley Annex.
Once pulling into the yard, the second co-defendant came out of the house and approached the victim’s vehicle. He sampled the marijuana and decided it was of poor quality and declined to purchase any. As he backed away, the first co-defendant walked up to the passenger side and pulled out a handgun in an apparent attempt to rob the victim. He placed the gun to the head of the victim’s passenger who managed to knock the gun away and duck down. Two shots were then fired which hit the victim. Meanwhile, Canidate reached into the driver’s side window and then pulled open the door as the victim reversed, spun away and was able to escape.
Realizing he had been wounded, the victim stopped the vehicle and switched places with the passenger who then drove him to the hospital. The victim was life-flighted to Shands in Jacksonville where he remained for approximately a month. He had to have a section of his intestines and liver removed as well as his gall bladder.
According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Nigel Lush, who prosecuted the case for the State, “There was no evidence the victim was a hardened drug dealer. He was going to college and was looking to make some extra money. But drug dealing is inherently dangerous, and he is extremely fortunate to be alive. The District Attorney’s Office will absolutely retry the remaining co-defendant. Criminals who bring violence to our communities must be held accountable no matter how long it takes.”
Sentencing in this case has been withheld until the resolution of the final co-defendant’s case. Alvin Canidate faces a possible punishment of up to 45 years in prison.
Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.
