CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson An Athens man has been indicted for murder in connection with a triple shooting in which a teenage boy was killed and two other victims were wounded. Jakel Javaunte Arnold, 23, of Mandy Drive, was charged with malice and felony murder, and four counts each of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court last month. The shooting happened on May 8th outside the Pilgrims Pride po

Issued today by the Gwinnett County Police Department Buford, Ga., July 21, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police are requesting the public's assistance with locating missing person 29-year-old Justin Jones. Jones was last seen at his residence in the 1300 block of Hartford Run NE in Buford. Family members have not heard from him since June 25, and he left his cell phone behind. His current whereabouts are unknown, and there is no known clothing description available. Jones is descr

file photo of 300 Blackout By Joe Johnson Police have identified one of the weapons used in a recent shooting in downtown Athens as an AR-15 automatic assault rifle. A just-released police report of the July 5th incident documents witnesses describing an automatic rifle being fired on East Clayton Street. Nobody was struck by gunfire but several businesses were damaged by bullets. One suspect, 19-year-old Damian Swint was arrested later in the day and charged with aggravated

By Joe Johnson A 33-year-old woman was cleaning her home this weekend when struck by a bullet that punched through the door. The incident happened at about 2 a.m. July 19th at Rolling Ridge Apartments off Kathwood Drive and witnesses identified the shooter as a man from Oglethorpe County whose intended target was another man with whom he had an ongoing feud. The victim was injured when one of the bullets ricocheted and struck her in the leg near the ankle, according to polic

Ball By Joe Johnson Terry Bernard Ball, 38, of Simmons Street, was arrested early in the morning of July17th after he shot a man on The Block, a popular hangout in east Athens. The victim, 38-year-old Mario Orlando Baker of Ramble Hills Circle, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his buttocks and leg. The incident reportedly happened at around 12:30 a.m. when Ball shot Baker at the corner of Vine and Gressom streets, according to police. Alth

By Joe Johnson Sarina Avery McElreath, 28, of Jennings Mill Parkway, was arrested early in the morning of July 16th after she crashed her car while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said they were summoned to the scene on Mathew Avenue at around 3 a.m. when the incident activated the crash detection feature of McElreath’s iPhone which automatically dialed 911. According to police, the woman’s SUV overturned upon striking a parked vehicle. The accident r

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) is seeking applications by Sunday, August 16 from 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who are interested in taking part in the Mayor's Youth Council. Eligible students can attend public or private schools or be homeschooled, but must be Athens-Clarke County residents. Council members attend meetings twice per month and participate in periodic service activities, adding up to a time commitment of around six hours/month from

Collins By Joe Johnson A man and woman were arrested on the morning of July 12th at a hotel on Epps Bridge Road where they had sex in a hallway. The incident was reported at 11:21 a.m. by an employee of Fairfield Inn and Suites who told police that the suspects were “having sexual relations in the public areas of the hotel.” When reviewing surveillance camera footage police saw Amir Rashadee Haynes and Laura Michelle Collins having oral sex and intercourse in the hallway. Aft

By Joe Johnson Thomas Lawrence Fucci Jr., 53, of Segrest Circle, was arrested over the weekend in connection with a grass fire he allegedly caused by setting off fireworks. The incident happened late in the morning of July 3rd in a field next to Kroger on Barnett Shoals Road after he purchased Megabanger bottle rockets from a fireworks vendor in the parking lot and then set one off in the nearby field. The rocket ignited a fire and witnesses reported that Fucci got into his c

By Joe Johnson A Jackson County man reported that someone assaulted his daughter as they were trying to eat in the Waffle House on Atlanta Highway. The incident happened early in the morning of July 9th when the suspect accused the 44-year-old Jefferson man’s daughter of giving him “the stank eye,” called her a slut and then lunged at her. The suspect then threw a beverage on the man before leaving with a Waffle House employee who was later identified as his sister, according

Gresham By Joe Johnson The Athens police department has made another arrest in connection with young men shooting at each other early in the morning of July 5th on a crowded downtown street. Fortunately no one was injured although several businesses on East Clayton Street were damaged by gunfire. One eyewitness was working at one the bars where he claimed to have seen some of the suspects firing automatic weapons, including an AR-15. Swint The first suspect was arrested later

By Joe Johnson The police department has made a second arrest for a gunfight that occurred in downtown Athens early in the morning ofJuly 5th. No one was injured when the two young men shot at other males on East Clayton Street, but several businesses were damaged by the gunfire. The first suspect was arrested later in the day of the incident and was identified by police as 19-year-old Damian Swint, and on Monday police announced they had arrested 22-year-old Markavion Gresha

Photo illustration By Joe Johnson Authorities last week rescued an 83-year-old woman from deplorable living conditions in a home located in southeast Athens-Clarke County. Police said they responded to the residence to meet with an Adult Protective Services official who found that the elderly woman was sleeping in a bed that was urine soaked in a room that was littered with human and dog feces. The woman appeared to be frail and malnourished, an officer said in a police repor

Robinson The United States Department of Justice has released the following: ATHENS, Ga. – A federal jury convicted two Georgia residents for their roles in an armed drug trafficking network linked to a cartel that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances throughout the Athens community, with the Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by FBI resulting in the seizure of more than two dozen firearms. Serda “This verdict holds these defenda

The following wos released by ACC Leisure Services Athens-Clarke County invites professional artists to submit qualifications to create a sculpture for Memorial Park. The site for public art will be the lower pond area - art can be placed in or around the lower pond, and it can be one large sculpture or a series of smaller sculptures. Deadline to apply is Friday, July 24 at 5:00 PM. Full call details and the application are available at accgov.com/publicart.

From ACC Leisure Services Do your joints squeak or groan when you exercise? Are there twinges of pain as you work out? Would you like greater freedom of movement and mobility without the impact of traditional aerobics? Then Aqua Aerobics is for you! Aqua Aerobics is low impact exercise sessions at the Memorial Park swimming pool this summer. Participants will experience a variety of stretching, limbering, and weight routines. This summer workout program is underway and ta

By Joe Johnson Christopher Alexander Breault, 23, has been indicted for an alleged sexual assault at his home on Pulaski Street earlier this year. He was charged with rape, aggravated sexual battery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday. The incident allegedly happened at Breault’s residence on April 17th and he was arrested the following day. At that time he was in possession of a semiautomatic pisto

The United States Department of Justice today released the following: Two Georgians Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl from China Prison-Directed Organization Moved 2,610 Fentanyl Pills and 5,502 Grams of Synthetic Cannabinoid ATHENS, Ga. – A Georgia inmate and a co-conspirator were sentenced to federal prison today for trafficking fentanyl and a synthetic designer drug from China into the state resulting from a Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by FBI and the

I’m The following was released today by the Gwinnett County Police Department (Peachtree Corners, Ga., July 8, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police are requesting the public's assistance with locating missing 87-year-old Donald Hively. On July 8, Donald Hively was reported missing by his family. He was last seen at his residence in the 4200 block of Thamesgate Close in Peachtree Corners on July 7 at approximately 8:00 p.m. Hively left the residence on foot and has not been seen sin

By Joe Johnson A 46-year-old man reported that he was walking on Barber Street early in the morning of June 30th when someone fired a gun at him. He told police that he was passing by Kwik Kar Wash at around 4 a.m. when a shot rang out and he heard the bullet whiz past. He ran through the car wash and hid in a nearby building where he called 911. The man told police that just prior to being shot at he saw someone ducking into some bushes near the car wash. Police located witn