Murdered Atlanta teens died after rapper music video shoot, police say
Atlanta police blame the deaths of two Atlanta boys last summer on seven men they say are members of the violent Goodfellas gang.
ATLANTA – Atlanta police announced Wednesday that multiple members of the violent Goodfellas gang have been arrested in connection with a deadly double shooting that occurred last summer on Sparks Street.
ORIGINAL STORY: Oakland City shooting: Two 13-year-olds killed, 11-year-old injured; $10K reward offered
Atlanta Police and FBI Atlanta gave a press conference on Wednesday afternoon about the 3 teen boys shot last summer in Oakland City. 2 of them died.
What we know:
The shooting claimed the lives of two 13-year-old boys, Ja’Kody Davis and Lamon Freeman, and injured 11-year-old Dontavious Davis. Police say Freeman was celebrating his 13th birthday on the day he was killed.
What they’re saying:
“Those crimes were just not against the Freeman family or the Davis family. Those crimes were not just against the Oakland City community or here on Spark Street. These crimes were against all of Atlanta.
“When gun violence touches this neighborhood and can claim the lives of two 13-year-olds, it touches every Atlanta neighborhood. These individuals that committed the crime here on July 2nd were dangerous individuals that if allowed to remain free on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia, were going to use guns again to harm,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.
During the press conference, it was revealed that the attack was in retaliation for an Atlanta-based rapper entering a rival gang’s territory to film a music video. Authorities say a high-ranking member of the Goodfellas gang, who was incarcerated at Hays State Prison, orchestrated the attacks.
“The overall theme in this case is grown men playing gangster. Lamont Freeman was allowed to be a 13-year-old for 27 minutes before gang violence ultimately took his life. Cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to go over into a rival gang stronghold and shoot a music video in a place that he knew he should not have been,” APD Homicide Commander Ralph Woolfolk said.
Following those instructions, the suspects opened fire on an apartment complex where the three young teens were gathered to celebrate Freeman’s birthday.
Those arrested were identified as Quiyontay Sanders, Richard Hollis, Reginald Thomas, Dekeitheon Mobley, Markus Crawford, Tradon Crawford and Ali Caldwell. Markus Crawford and Tradon Crawford are brothers.
The young teens did not have any connection to the gangs involved in the dispute, according to police.
What we don’t know:
Police did not identify the rapper during the press conference, but said that he knew who he was and called his acts “cowardly. They also have not named the other gang involved in the dispute.
RELATED: Two Atlanta 13-year-olds killed on birthday; Investigators increase reward to $50K
What’s next:
The investigation remains ongoing and there is still a $50,000 reward for additional information about the case. Anyone with information on the case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). Tips can also be submitted directly to the Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (404) 546-4235.
Information for the above story came from a press conference held by Atlanta police and previous reporting.
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Police alleged that in the months following the incident, multiple shootings and homicides can be tied back to Lil Baby’s music video shooting.
Investigators reportedly alleged that a “high-ranking” member from a gang opposing Lil Baby called in the hit on the pair of teens using a cell phone from behind bars in a Georgia prison.
“This team will work relentlessly to hold you accountable,” Woolfolk said while addressing the Atlanta rapper. There is a $50,000 reward for those with more information.
On the music side, Lil Baby is coming off the release of his WHAM album, which topped the Billboard 200 in January. The 30-year-old is slated to hit the road for the WHAM World Tour with BigXthaPlug and NLE Choppa in June.
Billboard has reached out to Lil Baby’s team for comment.
