By Joe Johnson
An Athens man who was on probation for a gang-related fatal drive-by shooting was recently arrested with another purported gang member on drug and weapons charges, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.
Tyrique Tittrous Watson, 22, of Macon Highway, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after he was arrested for the May 2014 drive-by that killed 18-year-old Jordarian “JoJo” Randolph on Westchester Circle. According to police and court records, Watson’s 2Tuff street gang were in a rivalry with Randolph’s NBA (Never Broke Again) gang.
Watson was the driver of the vehicle from which a fellow gang member shot Randolph with an assault-style rifle.
As part of a plea bargain, Watson in 2016 pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and murder charges were dismissed in return. He was sentenced to five year in confinement and 15 years on probation.
While on probation for Randolph’s killing, Watson was arrested Friday after police performed a traffic stop on a car occupied by 22-year-old Tittrous Tyvet Bonds Jr. A member of the police Gang Unit recognized Bonds, who he knew to be wanted for a felony probation warrant, entering the vehicle in a parking lot near the suspect‘s home.
An officer in a marked police car attempted a traffic stop on Atlanta Highway, but Watson sped away, according to the police report.
When the officer caught up to the vehicle at the Clarke Crossing shopping center, Bonds fled on foot and was seen throwing a bag into some bushes, according to the report. After Bonds was caught and taken into custody, police said officers recovered the bag he ditched and found it contained marijuana, packaging materials and two pistols.
Additional marijuana, scales packaging material and cash were located in the vehicle and on Watson’s person, according to the report.
Both men were charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and violating the state Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Watson was additionally charged with a felony probation violation that stemmed from the fatal drive-by shooting six years ago, and Bonds was charged with a felony probation from his conviction in May 2018 for violating the anti-gang statute by carrying a concealed weapon without a permit while engaged in a 2Tuff gang-related activity.
As of Wednesday morning, both men continued to be held at the county jail without bail being set.