Marietta homicide suspect arrested thanks to tips from community

A man suspected in an October shooting that left one dead in Marietta was arrested last week after multiple tips from the community helped detectives locate him, police said.

Dameon Coney, 36, of Atlanta, was arrested Nov. 5 and charged with homicide, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and aggravated assault, Marietta police spokesman Officer Chuck McPhilamy said. Coney was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, where he remains without bond.

According to the investigation, Marietta police responded to a shooting in the 200 block of McIntosh Avenue in the early morning hours of Oct. 3. They found 42-year-old William Huggins on the ground near the street with two gunshot wounds, McPhilamy said. Huggins was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, but he never regained consciousness and died Oct. 15.

Police then received multiple tips from the community, including some that were anonymous, McPhilamy said. The tips identified Coney as the shooter, leading Marietta detectives to secure a warrant for his arrest Oct. 27. A little less than two weeks later, police located and arrested Coney, McPhilamy said.

“(I)t is reassuring to know that Marietta has developed a level of trust and collaboration between community members, police officers and detectives, that when a crime does occur, we are ready to quickly identify and bring criminals to justice to restore public safety,” Marietta police Chief Dan Flynn said.