“Celebratory gunfire” in the evening hours of July 4 led to three arrests across two separate incidents in DeKalb County, including one that left an employee of the DeKalb District Attorney’s Office critically injured.
The DeKalb County Police Department said they responded to a reported shooting in the 7500 block of Clear Creek Dr. around midnight and found a woman, later identified as Lakesha Davis, with a gunshot wound. The department said Davis was inside her home when “a round of celebratory gunfire” entered the residence and struck her.
She was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition, according to DeKalb Police.
Credit: Claire Chaffins
Credit: Claire Chaffins
Steven Joseph, 34, and Odane Lynch, 42, were both arrested in connection with the shooting. Joseph was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and first degree criminal damage. Lynch was charged with aggravated assault, reckless conduct and discharging a firearm near a public highway or street.
District Attorney Sherry Boston said in a statement that Davis is a dedicated employee for the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
DeKalb County Police said the investigation into the incident has closed. Boston has requested a so-called conflict prosecutor to handle the case because it involves one of her employees.
It wasn’t the only arrest police made over the holiday weekend for similar behavior. Earlier Saturday night, “suspected celebratory gunfire” interrupted a fireworks show in Avondale Estates.
The Avondale Estates Police Department, the DeKalb County School District Department of Safety and event security responded to the “suspected celebratory gunfire” in the area of Napoleon B. Cobb Stadium around 9:15 p.m.
“Out of an abundance of caution, attendees were quickly and safely escorted from the stadium,” the city wrote on social media. “There were no incidents or injuries.”
Some commented on the city’s social media post that the incident had been “pretty chaotic” after the gunfire sent people running.
The Avondale Estates Police Department said Tyler Ladet, 39, was arrested at his residence near the fireworks show Saturday and was charged with reckless conduct and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Officials said he is being detained at the DeKalb County Jail.
Officials said police recovered two handguns and multiple shell casings in the backyard of Ladet’s residence.
The city highlighted that attendees were subject to bag checks and screened for weapons as part of the event’s security.
About the Authors
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
