About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2024)
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 -21. 2024 • PAGE 8 A man has been arrested after a drive- and another injured. File photo left one victim dead Stone Mountain resident suspected in drive-by shooting arrested BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM A Stone Mountain man suspected of committing a drive- by shooting that led to the death of one victim and injury to another victim has been captured, according to officials with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. Officials stated that Stone Mountain resident Kaleb Fisher, 20, was taken into custody on Dec. 8 at a residence off Moury Avenue in Atlanta. The arrest was made by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit with assistance from Georgia State Patrol SWAT. Fisher is a suspect in a drive-by shooting that occurred earlier this year. According to investigators, on June 26, the drive-by shooting happened near the intersection of Wesley Chapel Road and Snapfinger Woods Drive. Officials stated that the shooting resulted in the death of one teen and in jury of another teen at the scene; Demario Hollis was mur dered and the shooting caused injury to Jerry Toney. Both were 19 when the incident occurred. Fisher was transported without incident to the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without bond on felony charges of murder and aggravated assault with a weapon. Officials with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office did not provide information on whether the suspect and victims knew each other or a motive for the shooting at press time. "Drive-by shootings are a subset of more general gun violence and are less common than incidents in which some one approaches another on foot and fires at him or her," states a PDF published by the U.S. Department of Justice. "In some situations, drive-by shootings are gang-related; in others, they are the result of road rage between strangers or personal disputes between neighbors and acquaintances." For more information, visit dekalbsheriff.org. THEATER Continued From Page 7 ing on a play about money and the econo my until I started listening to the podcast," Emert said. "That could be a fun challenge, I thought—to develop a musical that teaches kids about financial concepts and instills a healthy relationship with money early on." Emert said he and psychology professor Bonnie Perdue have designed their study to investigate the success of the musical in conveying the key concepts about money to the audience. He said they hypothesize that arts engagement will have positive effects on children's comprehension and that the musical presentation of the information will resonate differently and prove to be more effective than a classroom lesson about the same content. A 2023 survey conducted by OnePoll.com of 2,000 parents showed that 82 percent of respondents think children should be taught financial literacy and money management skills in schools. According to stateline.org, which provides analysis on trends in state policy, Georgia enacted a law requiring students to take a course in financial literacy as a graduation prerequisite. "This law will ensure that [stu dents] learn financial literacy in our schools, like the importance of good credit and how to budget properly, so that they are better prepared for the world beyond the class room," stated Gov. Brian Kemp when he signed the bill in 2022. A world-premiere workshop production of Million Bazillion: the Musical will open in the Winter Theater on the campus of Agnes Scott College, located at 141 E. College Ave. in Decatur on Feb. 22 with an 11 a.m. perfor mance specifically for local students. Addi tional performances will be held on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., on Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Emert said the show will feature a series of interrelated scenes in which four kids are learning about money and singing songs such as "Dollar Scholar." Each song in the show heightens the information the characters— and the audience—are being taught and aims to inspire an ongoing curiosity to achieve fi nancial literacy, according to a press release. The play is free for Agnes Scott College students, faculty, staff as well as children 12 and younger. Tickets are $8 for the general public. For more information, visit agness- cott.edu. SHOOTER Continued From Page 7 learned that Evans had been involved in a tumultuous relationship with a woman who lived a half a mile from the crash, stated in vestigators. "The woman had a protective order against Evans and told police that she heard an 'aggressive' knock at the door of her home around 10 a.m.," said investigators. "She then noticed she had several missed calls and text messages from Evans. He left without incident but returned in the early af ternoon. The woman said she saw Evans out side her house and called Defendant Bracey, who had been at the home that morning and left with their daughter. The woman asked Bracey to come back to the house because she was scared and had left her gun in his car." When the woman, who was not named by investigators, called Bracey again, he told her that he had shot at Evans but did not believe he had hit him, said officials. "Bracey claimed he shot at Evans because Evans had rolled down his window as their cars crossed paths on the road," said inves tigators. "The woman told investigators she argued with Bracey about opening fire with their daughter in the car and that she had not seen him or heard from him since." Law enforcement officials said they ar rested Bracey in North Carolina on March 10, 2021. He was then extradited to Georgia and booked into the DeKalb County Jail. Immediately following the guilty verdicts, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Shon- deana Morris, who presided over the trial, sentenced Bracey to life without parole plus 15 years to serve in confinement. Bracey is already serving a sentence of life without parole plus five years for a fatal shooting in Cobb County in January 2021 and his DeKalb County sentence will run consecutively to the Cobb County sentence, stated officials. The case, assigned to the Homicide and Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior As sistant District Attorney Kara Roberts with assistance from Chief Senior Assistant Dis trict Attorney Josh Geller, District Attorney Investigator J.B. Williams, and Victim Advo cate Jozlyn Varnedoe. DeKalb County Police Department Detective Kelley Hoyt led the initial investigation. FARM Continued From Page 3 for fresh fruits, vegetables, pickled okra, honey, organic salad dressings, eggs, jams and preserves to be sold onsite in a country store managed and led by Youth Farm participants, stated officials. "We are seeking youth to apply for the internship that are interested in decision-making and problem-solv ing while learning about basic entre preneur-related concepts," stated E.M.B.A.R.C. Youth Farm officials. Requirements for those applying include: • An interest in farming and develop ing agricultural skills • Ability to work independently and collaboratively • Enrolled in a DeKalb County high school during the 2023-2024 school year • Must be a DeKalb County resident • Must be between the ages of 15 and 18 The program begins on March 8 and the deadline to apply for the internship is Feb. 23 at 5 p.m., stated officials. For more information and to ap ply, visit https://www.embarcyouth- farm.org/ or contact Kristen Wim berly with the DeKalb County Office of Youth Services at 470-543-0761 or by emailing kwimberly@dekalbcoun- tyga.gov.
