By Joe Johnson
An Athens man who is suspected of being the shooter who injured two people when he opened fire during a brawl in downtown Athens has been arrested.
Ismael Tapia-Marquez, 24, of Vincent Drive was arrested Nov. 3 on warrants charging him with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
His brother Israel, 22, was arrested for fighting and giving false information and released.
According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the brothers were involved in a fight early the morning of Oct. 29 on West Clayton Street to where officers on patrol responded upon hearing multiple gunshots. When the officers arrived at the intersection of Hull Street they encountered a large brawl in the roadway outside of Tropical Bar where two people had been shot in their torsos.
EMS transported to the hospital the victims, who were identified in a police report as Akeel Kolen, 31, of Athens and Deon Marquel Gardner, 18, of Elberton.
Though their injuries were said to be serious, the victims were later released. Kolen told Classic City News that he could possibly lose an eye that was badly damaged when he was beaten during the incident.
Police have declined to publicly comment on possible motives, though it is believed that the incident initially began as a fight during an argument concerning a female.
Police reportedly identified Tapia-Marquez as the alleged shooter by reviewing surveillance video footage from area businesses.
The incident this week continued to be investigated and police said they were aware of bystanders filming the fight and subsequent shooting.
The asked for anyone who has any such video or other information about the incident to contact Detective Hovie Lister at
Hovie.Lister@accgov.com or 762-400-7333.