By Joe Johnson
The shooting deaths of two people in Athens this week stemmed from a planned transaction that was arranged online, Athens-Clarke County police confirmed on Friday.
A relative of one of the victims previously told Classic City News that 21-year-old Casey Parten on Monday travelled from his home in Flowery Branch to meet with 16-year-old Ashawn Adams to purchase a dirt bike that had been advertised on Facebook Marketplace.
Parten was accompanied to the planned meeting location on Marlborough Downs Road in the Stonehenge neighborhood by his 24-year-old brother, Tyler.
“We now know there was never a motorcycle and it was a setup," the relative said. “They arrived and things immediately went bad.”
In its Friday news release, ACCPD confirmed that a preliminary investigation determined that the Parten brothers came to Athens to buy a dirt bike from Adams that was advertised for sale on Facebook.
“Upon arrival of all parties at the designated address, an interaction between the parties involved resulted in an exchange of gunfire,” according to the release. “As a result, Ashawn Adams and Casey Parten were shot.”
Adams died at the scene and Parten died Wednesday at the hospital.
Police would not say who shot who.
“We are awaiting autopsy results and evidence testing to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting,” ACCPD Public Information Geof Gilland said.
Police said the investigation was ongoing and detectives would like to speak to anyone who may have had an interaction via Facebook Marketplace regarding the purchase of a dirt bike in the Stonehenge neighborhood.
They asked for anyone with such information to contact Detective Paul Johnson at paul.johnson@accgov.com or 762-400-7060.
The police department issued a reminder that meeting strangers for transactions involving valuable items is inherently risky, and it is best to meet for such transactions in a well-lit, highly-populated, or public area. At ACCPD Headquarters, located at 3035 Lexington Road, there is a “Swap Spot,” a dedicated transaction area in the front parking lot equipped with a camera that records 24-hours a day. The area of camera coverage is indicated by the green parking spaces.
People with information about the Stonehenge shootings can also contact Lt. David Norris at (762) 400-7165 or david.norris@accgov.com. Tips can be made anonymously by calling the Crime Stoppers confidential tip line (706) 705-4775.
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