By Joe Johnson
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has announced the arrest of a second gang member in connection with a drive-by shooting last week that claimed the life of a child,
Additionally, ACCPD said that warrants for the arrest of another suspect had been obtained, bringing to four the number of gang members to have been charged for their alleged involvement in the deadly shooting last Friday afternoon.
The incident occurred when gang members shot from a moving SUV at a rival gang member who was outside of his home at the Hallmark Estates mobile home park. All of the gunshots missed their mark, and they instead passed into the home and killed 3-year-old Kyron Santino Zarco-Smith and wounded his 9-year-old brother, both stepbrothers of the targeted gang member. They had been sitting together on a couch watching television at the time.
The first arrest was made on Saturday, with 17-year-old Julian Omar Cubillos being charged with murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and violating the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
On Wednesday night police announced that they had obtained warrants for the arrest of a fourth gang member, 22-year-old Desmontrez Mathis.
Although police have charged Brown as an adult, the Clarke County Sheriff's Office is withholding the 16-year-old jail inmate's booking photo on grounds that he is a juvenile.
The offer of a cash reward of up to $2,000 remains in effect for information that leads to additional arrests of the suspects who remain at large.
Anyone with information concerning this case should contact Detective Paul Johnson at 762-400-7060 or paul.johnson@accgovcom .
Anonymous calls can be made through the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 706-705-4775.