CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson The victim of an alleged murder last year at an Athens apartment complex fell to his death while escaping from gang members who were trying to rob him, according a recent court filing, On the night of November 6th, members of the Sex Money Murder street gang were attempting to steal cash at gunpoint from Antonio Jewell at The View at NoDa apartment complex, according to an indictment filed last Tuesday in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. The 22-year-old vi

Antonio Jewell By Joe Johnson The victim of an alleged murder last year at an Athens apartment complex fell to his death while escaping from gang members who were trying to rob him, according a recent court filing, On the night of November 6th, members of the Sex Money Murder street gang were attempting to steal cash at gunpoint from Antonio Jewell at The View at NoDa apartment complex, according to an indictment filed last Tuesday in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. The

Kyron Zarco’-Smith Released today by the Georgia Attorney General’ Office ATHENS, GA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Desmontrez Mathis, (aka “Ten”), 24, of Athens, has been sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, plus 30 years in prison, followed by 10 years of strict probation, for the murder of three-year-old Kyron Santino Zarco Smith. A Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge sentenced the defendant on Feb. 6, 2026. ORIGINAL RELEA

Kyron Zarco Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr’s office has released the following: ATHENS, GA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Desmontrez Mathis, Jayden Brown, and Dakious Echols have been convicted for the murder of three-year-old Kyron Santino Zarco Smith, who was shot and killed in a drive-by in Athens on March 8, 2024. Smith was watching tv on his couch at Hallmark Mobile Home Park when he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. A nine-ye

By Joe Johnson A defense motion to remove the judge presiding over the trial of the man accused of killing University of Georgia law student Tara Baker was denied Wednesday during a hearing in Superior Court. The motion had been filed by the attorney representing Edrick Faust, who is charged with murdering the 23-year-old student in January 2001 during a burglary of Baker’s apartment. In addition to murder, Faust is charged in a 12-count indictment with aggravated assault, r

By Joe Johnson With the Tara Baker murder trial just a week away, an attorney for the accused killer has provided the most detailed account to date of the UGA law school student’s death 25 years ago. The details are meant to contrast the slaying with an assault that Edrick Faust was previously convicted of committing that the prosecution plans to present as evidence in the trial that had been scheduled to start on January 26th. Faust was convicted of aggravated assault for an

Faust By Joe Johnson With the Tara Baker murder trial just a week away, an attorney for the accused killer has provided the most detailed account to date of the UGA law school student’s death 25 years ago. The details are meant to contrast the slaying with an assault that Edrick Faust was previously convicted of committing that the prosecution plans to present as evidence in the trial that’s scheduled to start next Monday. Faust was convicted of aggravated assault for an inci

Released this afternoon by the Gwinnett County Police Department Norcross, Ga., Jan. 16, 2026) – The Gwinnett County Police Department Homicide Unit has arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the death of a child. On January 8, 2026, officers were dispatched to the 6000 block of Green Hill Drive regarding an incident involving two juveniles. One of the juveniles was shot and died as a result of the injuries. It was discovered the juveniles located a firearm and contact

By Joe Johnson On the morning of December 18th, 26-year-old Anargyros “Cole” Mantas was in the parking lot of Redeemer Presbyterian Church on Pulaski Street when something caused him to walk out into the intersection of West Broad Street to speak with occupants of a car that stopped for a red light. The flashes of gunshots from inside the car are seen on surveillance footage followed by the sight of Mantas falling mortally wounded to the ground, He died of multiple gunshot wo

By Joe Johnson On the morning of December 18th, 26-year-old Anargyros “Cole” Mantas, was in the parking lot of Redeemer Presbyterian Church on Pulaski Street when something caused him to walk out into the intersection of West Broad Street to speak with occupants of a car that stopped for a red light. The flashes of gunshots from inside the car are seen on surveillance footage followed by the sight of Mantas falling mortally wounded to the ground, He died of multiple gunshot w

The following was released Thursday by the Lawrenceville Police Department On January 1, 2026, at approximately 5:20 a.m., officers with the Lawrenceville Police Department responded to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway in reference to a report of a person down in the roadway. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male lying in the roadway. Officers determined the victim had suffered at least one gunshot wound. During the investigation, officers obtained Ring doorbell vi

By Joe Johnson A Morgan County man was booked into the Athens jail Friday night on charges he committed murder at an intersection on the fringe of downtown. Jamarioun Makel Clark, 22, of Madison, allegedly shot and killed 26-year-old Anargyros Mantas at the intersection of West Broad and Pulaski streets Thursday morning. He was arrested the following day in Newton County as the result of result of interagency cooperation on the local, state and national levels. Authorities ha

By Joe Johnson The man who allegedly committed murder on an Athens street corner Thursday morning has been taken into custody, according to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Jamarioun Clark, 22, of Madison, was arrested Friday in Newton County for the shootingdeath of 26-year-old Anargyros Mantas at the intersection of West Broad and Pulaski streets, He is being held at the Newton County Jail on charges of murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a co

Clark By Joe Johnson Athens police are looking for a Morgan County man for the murder of 26-year-old Anargyros Mantas, who was fatally shot Thursday morning at an intersection west of downtown. The victim was found lying in the roadway at West Broad and Pulaski streets and he died after being transported to the hospital. Jamarioun Clark, 22, of Madison, is charged in arrest warrants with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession

By Joe Johnson The Athens police department has identified the alleged killer who fatally shot a man Thursday morning on a street corner west of downtown. Responding to a person down call, police found 26-year-old Anargyros Mantas lying in the road at West Broad and Pulaski streets, suffering from a gunshot wound, He died after being transported to the hospital, Later that afternoon police announced that they had identified the suspected killer, who they identified as 22-yea

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department’s this morning released the following On December 18, at approximately 2:23 AM, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a Person Down call in the area of W. Broad Street and Pulaski Street. Upon arrival, officers located a male in the roadway, later identified as 26-year-old Cole Anargyros. Anargyros was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment; however, he succumbed to his injuries. This is an ongoing in

By Joe Johnson The Athens man who was arrested in September for a decades old murder killed his victim when robbing a bottle of pills, according to recently filed court documents. Kevin Maurice Jones, 48, allegedly beat James Mitchell to death in October 2016 during the robbery at the Athens Gardens apartment complex. He then concealed the body, and for nearly a decade the disappearance of Mitchell was investigated as a missing person case. Detectives continued their invest

This was released today by the Gwinnett County Police Department Norcross, Ga., Dec. 5, 2025) – The Gwinnett County Police Department is investigating the events that led to a double homicide. Just after 10 p.m. officers assigned to the West Precinct responded to a person shot call on the 3200 block of Windscape Village Ln in Norcross. When officers arrived on scene they located a male with a wound on his neck and a witness. While on scene, officers were notified of a vehicle

By Joe Johnson Lewis Kern was found dead in the bathroom of his apartment on Tuesday morning, two month after his roommate died from a gunshot wound in the home they shared on North Avenue. Athens police on Thursday said that both deaths continued to be investigated. “We have yet to determine the manner of death for Mr. Kern. An autopsy will be performed ,” said Lt. Katie Jenkins. “As for Mr. Bellard, there does not appear to be anything criminal at this time but it is still

By Joe Johnson An Athens woman has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for fatally shooting her boyfriend last year. In exchange for her plea, 27-year-old Heather Nicole McCall on Monday received a sentence of four years in prison and six on probation. She also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct. McCall was arrested in June 2024 after she shot and killed 31-year-old Jeremy Howard on Nowhere Road. According the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, McCall