An innocent bystander who was shot to death in west Athens over the weekend was the second person to die as a result of a local gang war, Athens-Clarke County police confirmed on Tuesday.
Police Chief Scott Freeman said his department has made it a priority to find and prosecute those who were responsible for Saturday night’s death of 23-year-old Breana Jeree Blackwell, and also those involved in a spate of drive-by shootings that have occurred since summer.
“We are treating all of these incidents as one consistent issue and we are putting all of our resources and personnel toward solving that,” Freeman said. “We are pursuing every single avenue and a significant portion of our department has been allocated to addressing this problem.”
Police believe Blackwell was the victim of a shootout between two local street gangs, NBA (Never Broke Again) and 2 Tuff. She was sitting in her car at Hawthorne Extension and Brooklyn Road when killed by one of the many bullets fired by members of the rival gangs.
The feud between the two groups dates back at least two years, to May 2014 when purported NBA associate Jordorian “Jojo” Randolph was killed in a drive-by shooting on Westchester Drive. In a retaliatory measure several weeks later, according to police, members of NBA committed a drive-by shooting in the Deer Park neighborhood in east Athens in which three purported 2 Tuff gang members were wounded.
After many months of relative calm, in broad daylight on June 1, police said, an alleged member of 2 Tuff was in a moving car on Baxter Drive when taking aim at an NBA member. He missed his target, despite firing his gun some 14 times.
Last month saw a total of more than 100 bullets fired in three separate drive-by shootings, which police have connected to the gang rivalry. Three homes occupied by gang members were shot up, with no one injured.
Police said the most recent spate of shootings was sparked by rival gang members arguing with and taunting each other through social media, including Instagram and Snapchat.
The run of shootings in which many bullets were fired with no one being injured came to an end Saturday night with Blackwell’s death. Police said the woman lived in Hartwell, and came to Athens to attend a gathering called a “kickback” at a home on Hawthorne Extension. She just dropped off friends at the residence where the kickback was being held and parked her car, when she was killed by a single bullet that entered her car, police said.
Another person was injured in the shooting, a Vincent Drive resident who police said also was an innocent bystander in the area to attend the kickback.
Police said there could have been even more victims, as two occupied homes and several vehicles were raked by indiscriminate gunfire.
To combat the violence before anyone else is killed, Freeman said the police department has re-allocated personnel and resources.
“We have some people out there that have been reckless in firing guns and we are going to do everything that is possible to bring those who responsible to justice,” Freeman said. “That is our mission.”
One measure taken so far has been to assign members of the police department’s Crime Suppression Unit to the gang issue, he said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been enlisted to assist with the investigation of Blackwell’s homicide, Freeman said, and police are working with county and state officials to round up suspected gang members for violating parole or probation. A number of gang members have already been arrested since Saturday for offenses not related to Blackwell’s death, Freeman said.
The police chief indicated he planned to meet with people living in the area of Hawthorne Extension and Brooklyn Road to assure them steps were being taken to address the violence that invaded their neighborhood.
“I want them to know that their police department is working tirelessly to solve (the homicide) and also look at potential long-term resolutions” for gang-related violence.
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