CLASSIC CITY NEWS

Elder (r) and Smith The following was released today by the Georgia Attorney General’s Office Defendants sentenced to life in prison ATHENS, GA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Shamon Elder, Jr. and Jaquavious Smith have been convicted for the murder of 19-year-old Brynarius Smith, who was shot and killed on April 16, 2022, while sitting on his front porch at Nellie B. Homes in Athens. Both men were found guilty by an Athens-Clarke County Jury on May

By Joe Johnson A Superior Court jury in Athens has convicted a pair of street gang members for the murder of a rival in the Nellie B community four years ago. Brynarius Smith, 19, was shot to death by a trio of gunmen in April 2022 while sitting in front of his home on Cone Drive. Police identified three suspects, two of whom were arrested in April 2024: Ja ‘Quavious Smith and Shamon Elder, both affiliated with the Red Tape Gang. The victim had belonged to a rival gang. They

The best movies often use a simple plot as a transcendent metaphor for a greater truth. Field of Dreams is one of those movies. When Terrence Man (James Earl Jones) talks about baseball and America, we learn that the field of dreams (America) is “all that was once good and it could be again.” He describes the American dynamic as a blackboard that has been erased, rebuilt, and erased again. Such a perspective guides us toward retrospection, introspection, and evaluation. Let

By Joe Johnson Karla Attaway Allison, 44, of Boulevard, was arrested on the afternoon of April 26th when she was found to have drugs by police investigating a shoplifting complaint, Officers were responding to Half-Moon Outfitters on Prince Avenue on a report that Allison had stolen merchandise from the store. When the officers detained Allison on the sidewalk outside the store, they searched a her bag and found she had and a pair of sandals valued at $55, along with some met

By Joe Johnson A man who was arrested last year for the alleged murder of his girlfriend has been indicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter. Kendall Elon Boone, 29, was charged with voluntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,making a false statement, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Monday. The grand jury did not indict him for malice murder, felony murder, or ag

By Joe Johnson David Anlauf was arrested last month after he stole hundreds of dollars worth of hydroxymitragynine tablets on two different occasions from a Texaco convenience store on Atlanta Highway. Police charged the 55-year-old Athens man with theft by shoplifting for one of the incidents and robbery for the other because he physically pushed past the clerk to get to the health supplement that was kept behind the counter The man was apparently desperate to obtain the sup

Released today by the Gwinnett County Police Department: Lawrenceville, Ga., May 4, 2026) – Gwinnett County officer arrested following a domestic dispute. On May 1, 2026, Gwinnett County Police responded to a domestic dispute and identified one of the involved parties as Gwinnett County Police Officer Renee Downer. Officers determined Downer and the victim were formerly in a relationship, had recently separated, and were still living together as the victim prepared to move ou

By Joe Johnson A house fire last month in southeastetn Athens-Clarke County was accidentally sparked by an apartment electrical issue. A resident who perished in the April 24th fire at 121 Sapphire Court was identified as 68-year-old Francine Vancuron. “The fire began in the living room, and it’s suspected that it was electrical in nature,” ACCFD Fire Marshal Kevin Kearney said. The fire department had no information about dogs that reportedly lived with the victim.

By Joe Johnson A 17-year old girl last week was traumatized by the sight of a man masturbating in Ben Burton Park. The teen told police that she was sitting on the riverbank journaling on the morning of April 30th when she saw an older white male with a handlebar mustache masturbating on a nearby trail. Witnesses reported that the girl had been “crying and acting hysterically” while telling what she had seen. The man had reportedly briefly blocked the girl’s path on the trail

By Joe Johnson Santavious Montez Davenport has been charged with fracturing a woman’s skull by assaulting her with a bicycle. The 30-year old-old homeless man was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and criminal trespass, to an indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday, The charges stem from an incident at a wooded off of Old Hull Road in February when he attacked the woman by throwing the bicycle into her tent, A responding police officer reported that th

file photo By Joe Johnson A 9-year-old boy this week was found walking along a busy Athens roadway after he wandered off from an after school program. On Wednesday afternoon the child’s mother called 911 to report that her son was missing from the program at Whitehead Elementary School on Quailwood Drive. As a search effort was being organized, a second 911 caller reported seeing a child walking on heavily-traveled Tallassee Road near Vaughn Drive. A police supervisor located

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department posted the following on its Facebook page ACCPD is seeking the community’s help in locating 16-year-old Makiya Bailey. Makiya was last seen on April 17, 2026, and was reported missing on April 29, 2026. She is approximately 5’7” tall and weighs between 110–115 pounds. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white shirt, a white sweater, and a brown wig. Makiya is believed to only have access to a Wi-Fi-enabled cellphone. It is believ

By Joe Johnson The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is investigating the death of a University of Georgia student after his body was found in his off-campus apartment. The 21-year-old student reportedly had been found deceased in the apartment’s bathroom by a roommate. He had stab wounds to his neck and a knife was on the floor beside him, according to police, “This case is still being actively investigated,” said police spokesperson Lt. Katie Jenkins, “Currently, ther

Released today by the Gwinnett County Police Department: Norcross, Ga., April 30, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police detectives have been actively investigating a missing person case involving 65-year-old Lavonne Cain. Cain was reported missing by family members after he was last seen leaving his residence at the Canopy Glen Apartments, located at 1635 Pirkle Road in Norcross, on April 23, 2026, at approximately 9:20 a.m. Family members advised that while Cain typically leaves th

By Joe Johnson Bryant Myron McLaughlin has been charged in connection with an assault on a fellow prisoner at the county jail in Athens two months ago. The 39-year-.old prisoner from Dillon, S.C., was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and rioting in a penal institution, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday. McLaughlin was being held for the U.S. Marshals Service for an unspecified reason on February 7th when he brutally beat the 44

By Joe Johnson A grand jury has indicted an Athens man on charges he killed a man when he crashed his car into the victim’s electric bicycle two months ago. Terrence Terrell White, 46, of Pittard Road, is charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday. Police said that on the night of February 21st White was driving on Olympic Drive when his car struck from behind the e-

By Joe Johnson Morton McLaughlin Wiggins, 40, of Comer, has been indicted for an armed robbery at an Athens vape shop earlier this month. He was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday. According to police, the incident happened on the morning of April 6th at The Joint Vape Shop on Hull Road, where Wiggins left without paying for a $30 canister

By Joe Johnson Jessica Vencherra Johnson, 40, of Stonybrook Circle, was arrested early the morning of April 20th when she was found passed out on the side of the road with a young child in the back seat of her car. According to police, the front of the car was in the grass and the back was on the road, with the engine still running. When officers looked inside the vehicle they found an empty vodka bottle in the driver’s side door pocket and Johnson’s 9-year-old son in the bac

From ACC Leisure Services Join a walk and talk led by Georgia-based wildlife biologist Alex Troutman to hear about JOURNEY to becoming a wild biologist, his critters field guide, and tips for enjoying nature along the way! Alex will lead a indoor discussion about his life, career, and the Critter series. Next is a book signing before a stroll on the Box Turtle Loop and Boardwalk to learn a few nature viewing tips. This special "Critter Tales" is set for Saturday, May 9 a

By Joe Johnson Athens police recently saved the life of a teenager who tried to kill himself by intentionally overdosing on fentanyl. The 19-year-old male from Winder had checked into Howard Johnson on West Broad Street after expressing suicidal ideations on social media. Police were called at around 2:30 am on April 22nd after unsuccessful attempts by others to reach him by phone. When officers entered his room the teen was lying unconscious on the bed, with fentanyl and bu