Three purported Athens gang members were indicted this week in connection with an April shooting at Rolling Ridge Apartments.
A Clarke County Superior Court grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday accusing Vantrec Arnell Ballard and Toney Martavious Barnett with four counts each of violating the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism Prevention Act. Taveon Rashawn Stevens is charged with six counts of violating the anti-gang statute.
The shooting may have been the result of a dispute between the Billy and Piru gangs, according to Lt. Mike Tyndell, commanding officer of the Athens-Clarke County police Robbery Homicide Unit.
“We are hearing that this was related to some unacceptable behavior by possible members of the Piru gang,” Tyndell said.
Ballard, Barnett and Stevens each participated in the shooting “with the intent to maintain and increase his status” within their gang, according to the indictment.
Though no one was injured in the April 10 incident, innocent bystanders with young children ducked for cover, while several apartments were damaged by gunfire, including a home where a woman told police a bullet passed through the wall of her son's bedroom.
Police responding to the shooting chased after a car seen speeding from the apartment complex. The vehicle wrecked and its occupants fled, eluding police.
Tyndell said the suspects were identified “by associating evidence involving the vehicle involved in the pursuit as well as information provided by residents who recognized this behavior as very dangerous to themselves and came forward to assist in making their neighborhood a safe place to live,”
Police recovered three guns during the investigation, Tyndell said.
Earlier this year, when addressing an increase in gang-related violence that in November resulted in an innocent bystander being killed by gunfire, Police Chief Scott Freeman said the anti-gang law would be used whenever possible in charging gang members. The law provides for enhanced sentences upon conviction.
“The decision to pursue charges for violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act demonstrates our commitment that we are serious about addressing gangs here, and we are not simply turning our heads to criminal gang activity,” Freeman said in February.
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