A Clarke County grand jury recently indicted an Athens man on murder charges for the summer shooting death of an Athens teen.
Fernakey Juan Pass, 31, is charged in the indictment with malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault.
According to Athens-Clarke County police, the shooting resulted from an argument between Pass and the victim, 19-year-old Trequavious “Trey” Elder.
Police have not said what the argument was about, nor would they discuss possible motives for the shooting.
Police officers responded to the North Grove Apartments off Old Hull Road the night of Aug. 21 on a report of a fight there. The shooting was reported while the officers were en route.
Elder, who suffered a single bullet wound to the head, was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Pass, who lived at North Grove Apartments, was arrested at the complex within an hour of the shooting, police said.
Pass had been held at the Clarke County Jail without bail being set since the day Elder was fatally shot.
In a Sept. 4 ruling, Clarke County Superior Court Judge Lawton Stephens denied Pass’ request for bail, saying he would pose a significant threat to the community and possibly commit additional felonies if released prior to trial. He has a history of arrests, mostly for misdemeanor offenses and also family violence.
The fatal shooting was the second alleged murder this year in Athens. On Jan. 13, 21-year-old University of Georgia student Min Seok Cho was shot and killed at University Gardens apartments off Baxter Street during a marijuana transaction that turned into an armed robbery. Three are charged with Cho’s alleged murder, including UGA student Lucas Raposo, Cho’s friend who police said set up the drug deal.
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