DECATUR, Georgia — Authorities on Wednesday searched for a man who skipped bail during his trial but was nonetheless convicted in the shooting death of a transgender woman in Georgia.

The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office said Davonte Fore and Jaquan Brooks were convicted Oct. 4 in the June 4, 2021, death of Skyler Gilmore in her apartment at a complex in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Prosecutors said DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Nora Polk in February released Fore, 26, on bond pending trial, over their objections. While present at the start of the trial, Fore fled before the conclusion and is now considered a fugitive. An arrest warrant was issued against him.

A jury nevertheless found him and Brooks, 25, guilty of malice murder, two counts of murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a a firearm during the commission of a crime.

“That’s why our office works hard to get bail denied in cases like this, but it’s not our decision to grant bail,” said Jacques Spencer, an investigator with the county attorney’s office from DeKalb, to WAGA-TV.

Brooks is in custody.

Through the investigation, detectives learned that Fore and Brooks were members of a local gang who ordered them to kill Gilmore, 25, after discovering she was involved with another gang member, the police said. prosecutor’s office in a press release.

Detectives used phone data and surveillance video to connect Fore and Brooks to the crime.

“Our goal is to take him into custody. We believe he is a danger to society and the victim’s family also deserves to be able to face him in court when he is sentenced for what he did,” Spencer said.

The victim’s father, Chauncey Gilmore, told the television station he was grateful for the verdict.

“I have peace and I will have a lot more when they catch this guy too,” he said.

Anyone with information on Fore’s whereabouts is asked to contact the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

Furthermore, the sentencing of the two men has not yet been set. Polk said she will schedule a hearing for both defendants in the coming weeks.