By Joe Johnson
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in the investigation of a shooting early Sunday morning that injured seven people.
The department issued a public release Tuesday afternoon that asks people who may have taken photos or made videos between midnight and 2 a.m. at East Clayton and North Jackson streets, where police said a large group of people were fighting and 21-year-old Pharoah Devonell Williams of Washington repeatedly fired a gun into the crowd, injuring seven people aged 19 to 29.
Police said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Williams surrendered Monday to authorities in Wilkes County and he was subsequently transported to the Clarke County Jail, where he was booked in on seven counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Lt. Shaun Barnett, public information officer for ACCPD, said that “we believe that (Williams) was associated with some of the people that were involved in the fight.”
The incident coincided with throngs of people who were in bars downtown as they celebrated the University of Georgia’s football team defeating Clemson University late Saturday night.
Although the alleged shooter is in custody without bail set for the assault charges, the investigation was continuing and ACCPD asked for anybody that may have recorded videos, taken still photos, or captured audio or visual recordings to please share them with investigators.
Photos and videos can be shared by contacting Detective Menzel at (706) 612-6388 or brigitte.menzel@accgov.com.