Man Killed in Smyrna Drug Deal Gone Wrong

Shortly after the final fireworks popped on the Fourth of July, police say a man attempting to buy marijuana in Smyrna was murdered.

According to arrest warrants, Chamori Callender — whose age and city of origin are not listed — was arranging a meetup to purchase marijuana shortly after 1 a.m. Friday.

Callender told his friend Omar Jackson that the dealer was someone he went to Pebblebrook High School with, who would meet the pair in Smyrna near Emory University Hospital’s campus.

Callender and Jackson approached the vehicle, which contained Chris Bute, 22, and Kyle Bute, 18, both of Austell. According to the warrant, as Jackson and Callender approached the vehicle, one of the Butes exited the vehicle with a rifle, causing them to flee.

One of the Butes — whose relationship is not made clear by the warrant — fired two to three rounds at Jackson and Callender as they attempted to escape over a fence, the warrant says.

Jackson managed to make it back to his nearby apartment but Callender was fatally shot.

“It was later determined that he was shot once in the lower back, which caused massive internal injuries to his organs, and lacerations to his lungs and heart, which led to his death,” the warrant states.

Smyrna Police arrested the Butes Sunday, on felony murder and aggravated assault charges. They are both being held in the Cobb County Jail without bond.