Local & State Headlines

Police facing difficulty finding information about fatal shooting

• Albany police continue their investigation into a fatal Friday-evening shooting.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Police are still looking for several people they expect to bring charges against in connection with the weekend shooting death of a 16-year-old Albany boy.

Albany Police Investigator Kendra Wilson said police are still looking for about five males they anticipate charging with affray, or fighting, in connection with the Friday shooting that left 16-year-old Antwon Luke dead.

Police are having trouble, though, because all they have are the boys’ nicknames and neighborhood residents won’t cooperate much because of fear of retaliation, she said.

Patrick Thomas, 15, has been charged with aggravated assault, murder and possession of a pistol by a person younger than 18, Dougherty County Jail records show.

Police say Thomas was the shooter in the Friday attack. A group of about 10 boys had been fighting on the 200 block of Barton Avenue when someone yelled “Crips!” and then several shots were fired, according to witnesses.

Luke was shot in the back of the head and died Saturday.

While police haven’t said the shooting itself was gang related, Wilson said investigators are looking into the possibility that the people involved in the incident were gang members.

Wilson said evidence collected from the boys’ homes indicated they may be involved with local gangs. Police are looking into several MySpace accounts that reference local gangs, she said.

“The only thing we know right now is there was a fight,” she said. “There was a weapon presented, and someone was shot.”

According to a police report, witnesses said a man called “Big Eddy” appeared to be the target in the shooting.

Luke’s brother, Anthony Hill, has been charged with aggravated assault and possession of a pistol by a person younger than 18 in connection with the incident, police said.

Wilson encouraged the neighborhood’s residents to use an anonymous tip line for the department, (229) 436-TIPS. Callers can leave an anonymous tip and also be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest and conviction.

More Headlines>>