Authorities have identified 10 people allegedly involved in a massive street brawl in east Georgia that left an 18-year-old man dead.
They are mothers. Daughters. Sons.
"That's why we're taking an aggressive stance and charging everyone with murder," Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree told the Augusta Chronicle. "Anytime you have a mother driving her child to something like this, you have a problem."
In addition to murder, Eyvette Lashawn Byrd, 39, of Hephzibah; A’Lexis Cain, 18, of Hephzibah; Terry Lee Daniels, 19, of Augusta; Myah Dunbar, 18, of Hephzibah; Demetrius Lamont Harris Jr., 21, of Hephzibah; Quiasha Henley, 18, of Hephzibah; Quiauna Henley, 35, of Hephzibah; Raheem Jobes, 19, of Augusta; and Tyteanna Thomas, 18, of Augusta, are charged with aggravated assault in the March 18 stabbing death of Demajhay Bell. Quiana Henley is Quiasha Henley’s mother and Byrd is Harris’ mother.
Deputies were still searching Thursday for 18-year-old Eddie Doneal Carter III of Augusta, who has a warrant out for his arrest on murder and aggravated assault charges, Richmond sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Shane McDaniel told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
It all started when dozens of people came to the 2200 block of the Chaps Lane in Hephzibah to see two girls fight.
Byrd told police a crowd of 30 to 50 people came to her home wielding baseball bats, knives, pipes and other weapons to fight her 15-year-old daughter, according to a sheriff’s incident report.
The Chronicle posted video recorded from bystanders that shows girls fighting, boys attacking people with bats, and an out-of-control Dodge Charger that nearly runs over people.
Roundtree told the Chronicle the fight began as an argument between two girls at school, but continued to escalate over time as more people got involved, choosing sides, and eventually meeting on Chaps Lane.
Investigators believe Bell was an inactive participant when he was stabbed in the neck. Roundtree said Bell was inside a house for much of the fight, but was stabbed by Harris when he went outside, according to the paper.
Byrd attempted to drive the injured teen to the hospital, but another altercation broke out, causing her to stop and get out of the car, according to the incident report.
Bell then moved into the driver’s seat and attempted to drive himself to the hospital, but pulled over when he saw an officer nearby. He stumbled out of his vehicle and got into the marshal’s car.
Bell was taken to the hospital, but he did not survive.
“This is the epitome of a senseless murder,” Roundtree said.
