Within the span of two days, authorities have arrested three murder suspects in three unrelated shootings in DeKalb County.
The shootings took place last week in locations in unincorporated Decatur and Stone Mountain, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. The suspects — 18-year-old Cortez Damon Florence, 22-year-old Quavon Shenard Battle and 41-year-old Darien Everett Jones — were each taken into custody on charges of malice murder.
Florence was arrested Wednesday in connection with the Oct. 15 shooting death of 17-year-old Devan Jackson of Lithonia, sheriff’s spokeswoman Cynthia Williams said. The shooting happened during a fight between several people at a home on Mount Vista Road in Stone Mountain, she said.
DeKalb County police were called to the home around 4 a.m. that morning and found Jackson with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the police department. He died at a hospital.
Battle was also arrested Wednesday. The Decatur man was taken into custody in Atlanta on charges related to the Oct. 11 fatal shooting of Frederick Leon London, 37, also of Decatur, according to Williams. The shooting took place after a “drug transaction” at a fast-food restaurant on Memorial Drive, she said.
A funeral service for London was held Friday at noon at the Sims Special Event Center on Rainbow Drive.
The third and final murder suspect was arrested Thursday. According to his arrest warrant, Jones is charged in the Oct. 15 killing of Patrick Ponder at a location on Lynn Iris Drive in Decatur. His warrant did not list a motive, Williams said.
Florence, Battle and Jones are each being held at the DeKalb County Jail without bond.
About the Author
