A fourth teenager was arrested Wednesday in connection with a shooting at a house party near Douglasville that left two other teens dead and seven others injured earlier this month, authorities said.
Kingston Cottman, 17, joins Timothy Coleman, 18, and 17-year-old twins Chance McDowell and Chase McDowell, who were identified as suspects by Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds during a news conference Wednesday morning. The first three teens were arrested Tuesday in Cobb County and are each facing two counts of mass murder, nine counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of aggravated battery.
Cottman, whose arrest was announced after the morning news conference, will face identical charges, the sheriff’s office said. More charges are pending, including participation in gang activity, according to Pounds.
“These kids are so young to be committing such horrible crimes,” the sheriff said.
The twins are students at New Manchester High School in Douglas County, and Chance played football there from 2019 to 2022, according to school officials.
Press Conference
Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office (Georgia) on Wednesday, March 15, 2023
The incident took place March 4 at a “Sweet 16″ party that grew out of control, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Gunfire was reported as the crowd swelled beyond 100 teenagers. The sheriff’s office said a confrontation escalated into gunfire and at least seven others were shot.
When deputies arrived, they found 15-year-old Samuel Moon and 14-year-old Ajanaye Hill dead at the scene, officials said. Moon was a sophomore at Lithia Springs High School, while Hill was a freshman at Douglas County High School.
Pounds said the shooting was gang-related, and the victims were not the intended target. “They were innocent bystanders,” he said.
The sheriff didn’t comment on what led police to the suspects, who were at the party and were shooters “to a certain degree,” he said. When asked to name a gang involved in the shooting, the sheriff said, “I ain’t gonna give (that gang) no air time.”
Pounds held up a Glock 9mm handgun that he said was found during Coleman’s arrest and that may have been used in the shooting. He said they have one witness and expects more arrests to be made, describing the case as very active.
Credit: Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Douglas County Sheriff's Office
On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office released video footage of the teenagers being walked into the jail in handcuffs.
“I was there when the cuffs were put on them,” Pounds said. “That was my job, that’s what I promised, and that’s what I’ve done.”
Deputies took statements from more than 80 witnesses during their initial investigation, officials said. The week after the shooting, Pounds and the Douglas Board of Commissioners combined to offer a $40,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. On Wednesday, Pounds called on parents and the community to do more to prevent future violence.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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