Henry County Police arrested two teenagers June 27 in the graduation party shooting that left two dead and eight wounded at an apartment complex clubhouse earlier this month, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).
Dewayne Ivory, 18, was charged with being party to the crime of murder according to Henry County Police Captain Jason Bolton. Reports said Ivory handed the gun to Labaron Devon Curry, 18, prior to the fatal shooting of two female teenagers. Curry is charged with two counts of murder. Both men will appear in Henry County Magistrate Court July 11, said the AJC.
Victims Were Rising Juniors
Police identified the 16-year-old victims as Molly “Brook” Cohran of Atlanta and Yahshika Frye of Stockbridge. The party had been given for a Stockbridge High School senior. The wounded teens ranged in age from 17 to 19.
Katrina Miller, leasing consultant for the St. Ives Crossing apartment complex off Flippen Road n Stockbridge, said she was surprised at the violence since the young woman who rented the clubhouse informed her two police officers and adults would be at the party. Miller said a police officer routinely patrols the complex. But a resident of the complex said the fence was open that night and intruders had easy entry to the grounds and clubhouse.
Wounded Were Shot, Stabbed
The AJC said a fight broke out just before midnight when shots were fired. Wounded victims suffered from either gunshot or stab wounds. None of the wounded had life-threatening injuries. Fifteen police detectives and a SWAT team arrived to lock down the apartment complex. Police do not know what led to the violence. ”We’re dealing with a lot of individuals involved,” Bolton told the AJC on the night of the shooting.
The party began at 9 p.m. in the clubhouse, which is housed in the same building as the leasing office and fitness center and swimming pool. The AJC said students from Henry and Clayton counties and Atlanta, Riverdale and other cities "crashed the party." Despite the presence of chaperones, police said alcohol was served. Reports say up to 300 students were at the clubhouse.
Ruckus Began With A Fistfight
Atlanta NBC television affiliate WXIA said two girls provoked the melee and other teenagers fired [guns] into the crowd. Initially, police believed the incident could have been gang-related.
Capt. Bolton told the media June 4, “We received different information as far as a vehicle and different information as far as a description on suspects. We urge anyone that was there that left before we were able to arrive to give investigators a call." Informants may call the Henry County Police Department anonymous tip line at 770-288-8305. Police said the investigation is continuing, despite the two arrests.
Atlanta CBS affiliate WSB reported police believe the two deceased girls were innocent bystanders.
In a related AJC report, the FBI released statistics showing there was a 4.6% jump in violent crime in Atlanta in 2006. In addition, there was a 22% jump in murders. In 2005, there was a 20% drop in murders, said the FBI.