By Joe Johnson
A third gang member has been arrested on murder charges in connection with the shooting death of a child three months ago at an Athens trailer park.
Police Thursday afternoon announced that Desmontrez Mathis had been arrested in Augusta
for the death of 3-year-old Kyron Zarco-Smith, who was struck in the heart by a bullet during a drive-by shooting on March 8 at the Hallmark Estates mobile home park.
Authorities say that Mathis belongs to the Red Tape Gang and was one of four members of the gang who were involved in the deadly shooting.
Two other members of the gang were previously arrested, and a fourth, 18-year-old Dakious Echols remains at large.
When shot Zarco-Smith was inside his home, sitting on a couch and watching television with his 9-year-old brother, who also was shot but didn’t suffer any life-threatening injuries.
A gang member who was outside of the trailer and had been the intended target of the shooting was not injured.
Mathis was arrested in an operation with law enforcement personnel from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Middle District of Georgia FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department.
Police asked for anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Sgt. Scott Black at 762-400-7058 or scott.black@accgov.com.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of Echols, the remaining suspect.
Anonymous tips can be made by calling the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 706-705-4775.