Victims shot, pistol-whipped during Athens apartment complex brawl

By Joe Johnson

One person was shot and another was pistol-whipped during a large fight at the Bethel Midtown Village apartment complex Friday afternoon.

A suspect was arrested at the scene and warrants were issued for another suspect who had fled prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

Officers responded to the complex at about 1:49 p.m. for a crowd of over 20 people who were fighting around one of the buildings and in the parking lot.

They located a female with head injuries from having been struck multiple times with a pistol, police said, and they also found 27-year-old Tysean Deante Davis suffering from a gunshot wound.

The initial investigation determined Davis was the person who pistol-whipped the female, according to police, and he was charged with aggravated assault, battery, and possession of a firearm during the commission a felony.

Davis was treated at the hospital before being booked into the county jail.

The person who shot him was identified as 28-year-old Byron Smith, who fled from the scene prior to the arrival of officers.

Warrants have been issued for his arrest on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The ACCPD said on Monday that the investigation continued and asked for anyone with information concerning the incident to contact Detective David Harrison at David.harrison@accgov.com or 762-400-7361.