A mother and her three sons have been arrested in connection with a shooting that left one teenager dead and another in critical condition, DeKalb County Police said.
Viola Goodman, 52, James Fanning, 20, and Shontonious Hawkins, 25, were arrested the evening of March 2 at a home on Willa Way in Decatur. Another son, 16, whom police said is believed to be the person responsible for firing the shots, turned himself in at police headquarters just before 3 p.m. on March 3.
All four suspects are charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Jernard Wheeler, 13, died at an area hospital after being shot during an incident March 2 at 2717 Macafee Road in Decatur at approximately 2 p.m., police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said. Another teenager who was shot remains in an area hospital in critical condition.
Two groups of people were walking in opposite directions on Mcafee Road when words were exchanged and shots were fired, police said. Detectives believe there has been an ongoing dispute between the parties involved in the shooting, Parish said.
First-apparance hearings were held the night of March 3.
We used to walk your street in glee
To the market, or daycare, or to get a haricut
It did not matter if the sun was down or up
And now we dare not go out
For fear of who is out and about
May the streets one day be safe
From all this roaming waste.
Many of DeKalbs Elected Officials have learned that, you go to the Right Church, visit some others, stop by the Senior Centers on your way home and you're re-elected regardless of the Blood Bath that occures in your District Weekly ?
The lack of Social Programs ? The lack of Leadership from our Elected Officials ? Are these the causes ? The Break Down of The American Family and The American Dream ? Lack of Parental Guidance ? Are these the causes ?
There comes a time people when every citizen must rise up and put their boots on to do the work that needs to be done. We can't just sit on our hind legs and blame everybody else. You have got to be involved with your children and trust few. Drugs are too accesable to our youth.
One thing is for sure in DeKalb County. We do not have enough Police Officers and can ill afford to lose this New Recruit Class of Officers. These soon to be Police Officers need to continue their training and be sworn in as a part of DeKalbs Finest.
Same in the Fire Department.
But the DeKalb BOC and DeKalb CEO can well afford to pay the New DeKalb Information Media Rep $118,000.00 - Woh ! That ain't right ! And continue to give others huge raises by "job reclassification".
DeKalbs Police Officers put their lives on the line 24-7-365 while others who might get a paper cut doing their job make three and four times their salary ! It just ain't right !