A 17-year-old Georgia boy and his mother were arrested Wednesday in a shooting near a Douglasville city park that took the life of another 17-year-old boy.
The slain teen, whose name was not released, was found dead Tuesday near Jessie Davis Park on Malone Street off Ga. 92. Investigators were on the scene around 6:30 p.m. and had blocked off an area near a football field while they canvassed the park.
Two suspects, Joshua Blakely and his mother Lakeisha Blakely, were taken into custody Tuesday night, Douglasville police Chief Dr. Gary Sparks said in a news release. The boy is accused of murder, while his mother is accused of obstruction and tampering with evidence, among other charges.
Citing the ongoing investigation, Sparks did not provide many details but said the shooting was not random. The two teenagers had “some type of relationship” prior to the deadly incident.
While police investigated Tuesday, a third person, Jaiden Allison, was also arrested at the scene on a charge of possession of a stolen firearm. He was not believed to be connected to the teen’s killing.
Sparks said the work of crime scene investigators aided in the quick arrests of the Blakelys and two suspects tied to another Douglasville homicide this week: the shooting death of a 21-year-old Arizona man outside the Douglas Commons Kroger.
Within days of the July 6 shooting, 29-year-old Janaya Campbell and 26-year-old Ismael Gomez, were arrested on murder and aggravated assault charges in southwest Georgia, more than 200 miles from the Douglasville shopping center.
Warrants have also been issued for three additional suspects in the Arizona man’s death, and they remained at large Wednesday.
In a statement, Sparks stressed that Douglasville is a safe place to live, despite the two recent homicides. The chief suggested the public do their part to make it harder for crimes to occur, and encouraged parents to hold children accountable for their actions.
“If you see something, say something to authorities,” Sparks said. “Make sure to remove or hide weapons, jewelry, computers and other valuables from being accessible to criminals.”
In addition to the murder charge, Joshua Blakely is being held on charges of aggravated assault, possession of a stolen firearm, tampering with evidence and making false statements. His mother also faces a charge of theft by receiving stolen property, according to police.
The Douglasville Police Department is hosting a town hall Aug. 16 in the community building at the public safety complex on Fairburn Road from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to attend to discuss gangs, illegal drugs and theft crimes such as entering autos.
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