The gunman accused of killing an Athens teen in an alleged gang-related drive-by shooting bonded out of jail for a second time since his arrest more than a year and a half ago.
Telvin Tiondre Fleming, 21, is charged with malice murder and other offenses for the May 30 shooting on Westchester Circle in which 18-year-old Jordorian “Jojo” Randolph was killed by a bullet fired from an assault-type rifle.
He was released last April from the Clarke County Jail upon posting a $75,000 bond.
Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ken Mauldin said at the time Fleming was entitled to bond because his case was been brought before a grand jury within the statutory time limit of 90 days from his arrest.
Fleming was re-arrested last month, when Athens-Clarke County police said he was found to be in possession of brass knuckles and a gang “bible” when his Barrington Drive residence was searched.
A gang’s bible generally is a book containing the group’s rules, hand signs and symbols, “prayers” and rituals. Although said by police to be involved with a gang, Fleming was not forbidden in the bond order from associating with gang members or possessing gang paraphernalia.
A bond revocation hearing was held Jan. 13 in Clarke County Superior Court, but after hearing the evidence Senior Judge John H. Bailey Jr. ordered the reinstatement of Fleming’s bond.
Fleming was released from jail the second time last Wednesday.
The fatal shooting on Westchester Circle was the result of what authorities called a dispute between rival street gangs. Athens-Clarke County police said they did not think Randolph was specifically targeted, as he was with a group of others when gunfire broke out.
Fleming was identified by police as the triggerman, and was arrested along with Tyrique Watson. Authorities have not disclosed what role they believe Watson played in the shooting, but he “did intentionally advise, encourage, hire, counsel or procure the death of Jordorian Randolph,” a detective noted in Watson’s arrest warrant.
Fleming and Watson pleaded not guilty to all charges, and are scheduled to go on trial Feb. 8.
According to police, Randolph’s death resulted from a dispute between rival Athens street gangs, NBA and 2 Tuff.
The feud claimed another life in November when, police said, an innocent bystander was killed during a shootout between gang members in west Athens. Breana Jeree Blackwell, a 23-year-old Hartwell, resident came to Athens to attend a type of gathering known as a kickback, when police said the gang gunfire erupted and Blackwell was killed by a wayward bullet as she sat in her parked car.
Another bystander was wounded, police said, and several vehicles and occupied homes in the area of Hawthorne Extension and Brooklyn Road were struck by gunfire.
Blackwell’s death occurred during a resurgence of gang violence in which there have been several drive-by shootings, none of which involved any further casualties.
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