Arrest made for downtown Athens shooting

By Joe Johnson

An arrest has been made in connection with a shooting two months ago in downtown Athens in which a man was injured.

Athens Clarke County police said that on Tuesday afternoon they arrested Ronnie Lee Smith, 23, of Acworth on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The arrest stems from an investigation that began early the morning of Nov. 6, when officers responded to the area of Clayton and Jackson streets upon hearing gunshots.

While on the scene investigating, officers were notified that a 20-year-old male arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound, and police said they connected the injury to the gunshots officers had heard downtown.

Police spokesman Lt. Shaun Barnett said investigators did not believe that Smith and the victim knew each other, and that they had yet to establish a motive for the shooting.