By Joe Johnson
An Athens man was killed in a drive-by shooting Monday night outside of his home in an eastside neighborhood, Athens-Clarke County police said.
Demetrius Pope, 21, of Martin Circle, was struck by gunfire shortly before 11 p.m. and was transported to the hospital where he died, according to police.
“A witness reported seeing a dark sedan of unknown make and model drive by the location and an occupant begin shooting,” said police Lt. Shaun Barnett.
“The motive is unknown and there is no suspect information at this time,” he said.
According to Barnett, who is ACCPD’s public information officer, detectives were trying to determine if the incident was related to another shooting a week earlier that targeted Pope’s house while he and a 51-year-old woman were inside.
According to a police report, the shooting happened at about 3:06 a.m. Oct. 26 when the woman was sleeping on a couch and was wakened by the sound of gunfire and a vehicle driving away.
Shortly later the woman said, she heard another vehicle drive up, followed by more gunshots that shattered the front window and damaged other parts of the house, according to the report.
The woman and Pope, who was lying on his bed and on the phone at the time, both said they did not know anyone who would want to shoot up the house, according to the report. Barnett said he did not immediately know the relationship between Pope and the woman.
Officers collected 15 cartridge cases of two different calibers from the street in front of the house, the report noted.
Police asked for anyone with information about these incidents to contact Lt. David Norris at (762) 400-7165 or david.norris@accgov.com.