Athens Clarke County Cast: Real-Time Crime Center Launch and Gang Violence Crackdown

Hello and welcome to the Athens-Clarke County Cast, one of Feedspot’s Top 20 Georgia News Podcasts. I'm Melissa Carter. Here are your top stories brought to you by Drake Realty:

**Athens News

Real-Time Crime Center Initiative** In the wake of the tragic murder of nursing student Laken Riley, Athens-Clarke County Police are developing a real-time crime center. Lt. Jody Thompson emphasized that such tragedies necessitate community action. This new center will integrate surveillance footage from apartments, businesses, and body cameras, with plans to include University of Georgia’s campus. Impressively, it has already helped solve the murder of Cameron Manago in under 12 hours. The expansion continues, with more camera registrations needed from residents and businesses.

**Gang and Murder Charges in Toddler's Death** Four suspects have been indicted on gang and murder charges following the shooting death of 3-year-old Kyron Zarco in Athens. In what police describe as a gang-related incident, Kyron was killed on March 8th, and his 9-year-old brother was injured at a mobile home park. Julian Cubillos, Jayden Brown, Dakious Echols, and Desmontrez Mathis, members of the "Everybody Eats" gang, face multiple serious charges. Since July 2022, authorities have indicted at least 21 individuals in gang-related cases. Police Chief Jerry Saulters commended his department’s swift response and reaffirmed their commitment to fighting gun and gang violence.

**Body Found Near Homeless Camp** Authorities are working to identify a decomposed body found Sunday in a wooded area off North Avenue in Athens-Clarke County. Discovered near the former site of a homeless camp adjacent to the Georgia Division of Family Services, Coroner Sonny Wilson suggests the man may have been deceased for over a month. With no identification papers found, the cause of death remains unknown. The body has been sent to the State Crime Lab for further examination.

Join us as we delve into these stories and more on the latest episode of the Athens-Clarke County Cast. Stay informed and stay safe!

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