CLASSIC CITY NEWS

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

By Joe Johnson The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a Cobb County man whose body was recovered in Oglethorpe County. Kenny Jackson, 21, of Acworth, had last been seen on November 19th driving away from a skate park in Dunwoody and family members said that the Kennesaw State University student was found deceased on Sunday. Multiple sources have reported that he GBI is investigating the death,

By Joe Johnson The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a Cobb County man whose body was recovered in Oglethorpe County. Kenny Jackson, 21, of Acworth, had last been seen on November 19th driving away from a skate park in Dunwoody and family members said that the Kennesaw State University student was found deceased on Sunday. Multiple sources have reported that he GBI is investigating the death,

Antonio Jewell By Joe Johnson The police department on Wednesday announced that three more arrests have been made for the November 6th murder of Antonio Jewell, bringing to six the number of gangsters charged for the death of the 22-year-old Clarke Central High School graduate. Police say that Jewell was killed during an armed robbery by members of the Sex Money Murder street gang at The View at NoDa apartment complex. On Wednesday police announced the arrests of Dermetris A

Tara Louise Baker By Joe Johnson A Superior Court judge has ordered the unsealing of search warrants in the Tara Baker murder case as the trial is set to begin in less than two weeks. The 23-year-old University of Georgia law student was murdered in her east Athens apartment in January 2001 and the crime went unsolved for two decades, until when in February of last year Athens resident Edrick Faust was identified as the suspect by matching his DNA to genetic evidence collect

I wrote this for the Athens Banner-Herald in May 2007 Contract hits aren't just the stuff of movies, plot lines for The Sopranos or big-city tabloids. Some people in Athens will pay to have others killed, an allegation local police have made in two cases just within the past six months. Some hire hit men because they don't have the audacity to do the deed themselves, and others try protecting themselves by farming out their dirty work, law enforcement experts said. "It's no

The View at NoDa By Joe Johnson When The View at NoDa apartment complex opened north of downtown in May it took the place of a crime-ridden complex known as Bethel Midtown Village. The main reason for the high crime was because of gang activity in the complex that the Bloods street gang claimed as their territory. When 22-year-old Antino Jewell was killed at the new apartment complex on November 6th police said that he was fatally shot during a gang-related armed robbery. On

Antonio Jewell By Joe Johnson Antonio Jewell was murdered last week during what police said was a gang-related armed robbery. The 22-year-old graduate of Clarke Central High School was found dead Friday night on a sidewalk at the rear of The View at NODA apartment complex north of downtown Athens. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department on Monday announced that three gang members had been arrested and charged with murder. They were identified as Samtavious Keyshun Clark, 2

Antonio Jewell By Joe Johnson Antonio Jewell was murdered last week during what police said was a gang-related armed robbery. The 22-year-old graduate of Clarke Central High School was found dead Friday night on a sidewalk at the rear of The View at NODA apartment complex north of downtown Athens. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department on Monday announced that three gang members had been arrested and charged with murder. They were identified as Samtavious Keyshun Clark, 2

Antonio “A.J.” Jewell The following was released today by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department: ACCPD has arrested three individuals in connection to Antonio Jewell’s death on November 6, 2025. Samtavious Clark (23, Athens), Jeremiah Gresham (18, Athens), and Dion Nesbitt (18, Athens) were charged with Murder/Malice Murder, Armed Robbery, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of/Attempt to Commit Certain Felonies, and Criminal Street Gang charges. Upon investigation

By Joe Johnson Tributes are publicly being made following the death of 22-year-old Antonio Jewell, a 2022 graduate of Clarke Central High School. The young man known as AJ was found deceased Friday night at The View at NODA apartment complex near downtown Athens. His death is under investigation by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Addressing the Gladiator Nation, Clarke Central Athletics on its Facebook page said, “AJ was a proud Gladiator who represented Clarke C

The following was released this morning by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department: The victim in this case has been identified as Elmer Gualna-Mez, 22 of Athens, Georgia. On October 26th, at approximately 11:39 p.m., the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Highway 29 N and Highway 72. The initial investigation determined that the driver of a 2017 Nissan Versa, a 33-year-old male of Hull, GA, was

By Joe Johnson David J. Stewart was found slain last February in woods behind his house on Double Bridges Road in Winterville. Authorities said at the time that the 69-year-old widower had suffered a violent death, but it was only last month that the shocking details of just how brutal his murder was were made public through a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent’s affidavit that was filed in Superior Court. The agent stated that Stuart’s naked body had been covered with bru

Released this afternoon by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department On October 26th, at approximately 11:39 p.m., the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Highway 29 N and Highway 72. The initial investigation determined that the driver of a 2017 Nissan Versa, a 33-year-old male of Hull, GA, was driving north on US Highway 29 when he struck a pedestrian crossing Highway 29. The pedestrian succumbed

By Joe Johnson Two days after he was killed by an alleged drunk driver, police have yet to identify the victim. He was said to have been a pedestrian when struck and killed late Sunday night on U.S. Highway 29 at Georgia Highway 72. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to identify him,” Athens police Lt. Katie Jenkins said Tuesday afternoon, “We are still working diligently to do so.” The driver, Sadiq Huda of Hull in Madison County, was arrested for DUI and first-degree hom