Way to go, Fayette!

This was printed in the Clayton Metro section of the AJC, and I'm not sure why, considering it happened in Fayette...

3 teens charged for gunfire at party
By George Mathis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/07/07 11:44 AM

Three teenagers have been charged for firing guns at a graduation party held at a Fayette County skating rink, sheriff’s deputies said.

One suspect was arrested as he tried to flee a roadblock the night of the gunfire and U.S. Marshalls Southeast Regional Task Force agents caught up with the other two Wednesday, Fayette deputies said.

Fayette sheriff’s spokeswoman Lt. Belinda McCastle said Dontaz Elliott, 17, Radarius Franklin, 18, and Davon Ezzard, 17, are charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, theft by receiving stolen property, reckless conduct and other misdemeanor offenses.

McCastle said a 911 call came in from Dazzles Skating Rink just before midnight Sunday. As people left a graduation party there, the three suspects began shooting into the air, she said.

No one was hurt but one round struck a car window and came within inches of an occupant’s head, she said.

Fayetteville police and Fayette sheriff’s deputies scrambled to block the entrance and exit of Ga. 85 North Parkway, McCastle said. However, the suspects ditched their vehicles at the roadblock, she said.

Elliott was immediately caught and led police to a hidden weapon, she said. The two other suspects were identified and caught Wednesday. All three are in the Fayette County Jail, she said.

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Great job, FPD and FCSO! take two :)
Submitted by IMNSHO on Thu, 06/07/2007 - 3:29pm.

I already posted this with the article by the Citizen, but it doesn't hurt to post it twice!
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FPD was first on scene, and I just want to say GREAT JOB to them! Because the Lt. was scanning the County's channel (the norm for FPD and TPD, but not PCPD), the Lt was already on her way to the area due to the "possible fight" info that was being given to the FCSO (the same info would've been given to FPD, but time did not allow for it before the shooting occurred). The FPD Lt. actually heard the gunshots, and was on the scene before the end of the first 911 call, preventing any vehicles from leaving. Other FPD units quickly joined the Lt, including the K9 unit.

When the County units arrived, both agencies worked together to figure out who did what, when, where, and how. When the 911 call came in about armed persons being at the Bowling Center, it was FPD officers who pursued them on foot, and actually took the suspects into custody and held them for the County.

All in all, in was great to see the two agencies working so well together. They both did a GREAT job.

I'd like to give a shout out to the citizens who called in to give the heads up, those who called when the shooting occurred, and especially the guy who called when he saw the armed subjects in the parking lot of the Bowling Center. That last caller, especially, led directly to the arrests and the recovery of the gun.

Most of the people in that area that night were minding their own business, not causing trouble. Most of them were cooperative with the officers during the investigation. With recent news reports in the AJC of the "no snitch" policy among certain groups, I am thankful that there are still some who will do the right thing.

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This was printed in the
Buckwheat Rules's picture
Submitted by Buckwheat Rules on Thu, 06/07/2007 - 3:23pm.

This was printed in the Clayton Metro section of the AJC, and I'm not sure why, considering it happened in Fayette...

Not sure why you say? ... Ugh, let's see, could it be because that 75% of all Fayette County crime is from the Clayton County area?

I'm begining to belive that handguns are given out at hospitals in Clayton as a right of birth.


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That's an interesting stat
Submitted by FayetteFlyer on Thu, 06/07/2007 - 3:34pm.

75% of all Fayette crimes are from the Clayton area? Where did that come from just out of curiosity?

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75% sounds about right
Submitted by thebeaver on Thu, 06/07/2007 - 4:19pm.

Probably more like 80-90% though.

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