Milledgeville shooting death just latest in string of drive-by shootings

A 26-year-old was shot and killed Tuesday night in Milledgeville, marking the second death in more than 20 gang-related shootings since June.

Devron Torrance had a gunshot wound to the back of the head when authorities found him in the passenger seat of a Dodge Dakota outside the Solo Tobacco & Food store on the south side of town about 6 p.m., Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee said.

Torrance was taken to the Oconee Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead within an hour.

Massee said officers got information from the scene indicating that the shooting took place on Horne Avenue, about two miles from the store.

"We recovered some evidence yesterday, ... and (Wednesday) we had the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime scene techs come assist us with a search warrant for the residence on Horne Avenue," Massee said. "Our folks worked literally all night."

Tristan Conner, 18, and Haylee Farmer, 20, were charged with giving false statements at the scene, but Massee said they are not being charged in the shooting itself.

"They were at the scene at the time of the shooting, but we don't think they're the perpetrators," he said.

The driver of the truck in which Torrance was found was interviewed but not charged in the incident.

"The perpetrator shot the vehicle as (the driver) was going down Horne Avenue," Massee said, adding that the bullet went through the truck's rear window. "(The driver) drove about three or four more blocks and went to the Solo store, where he could run in and try to get some aid and assistance."

Authorities believe the shooting is connected to a weekend shooting as well as one Monday on the same street.

Milledgeville Police Chief Dray Swicord said Wednesday there have been three gang-related shootings in the city since Saturday and 23 since the first one on June 14 in which 21-year-old Diquan Key was killed.

"This is the second fatality that's related to what we think started this whole war deal," Swicord said. "We're making it a priority to see if we can stop this violence, but we need the community's help. People are seeing this. This is not one-on-one situations. There's lots of people involved in all these drive-bys, so someone knows something."

PERSON OF INTEREST

Craig Barnes, 25, was arrested over the weekend at a hotel, where he was found with guns and drugs, authorities said. Investigators suspect Barnes is affiliated with the same gang group as Torrance and are investigating any possible involvement in the shootings.

Milledgeville police Maj. John Davis said Barnes has been sought by authorities since August.

"He has a probation warrant, ... but also he has ties to the Blood gang here in town, so he was a person of interest" in the shootings, Davis said. "His name has come up a couple of times."

The police department has "nothing concrete to connect him to the shootings other than some street rumor," Davis said.

After a tip, Davis said police found Barnes at the Fairfield Inn & Suites about 5 p.m. Saturday.

In the hotel room where Barnes was arrested, officers discovered a red backpack containing ecstasy, marijuana, powdered cocaine, a scale and small bags, Davis said. Two handguns reported stolen from Cherokee County were also found, he said.

Barnes faces the following charges: possession of narcotics; theft by receiving stolen property; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime; and participating in criminal street gang activity, Davis said.

"The whole summer, it's been a conflict between Blood gang sets on different sides of town," Davis said, adding that the conflict involves groups from south and east sides. "There's only rumor about what started all this."

Massee and Swicord said they aim to involve federal prosecutors in the cases they have.

Swicord said the community needs to get involved.

"We need your help. That's the only way we're going to stop this."

Massee agreed.

"We feel that the community is going to have to stand up and they're going to have to give us information and help us," Massee said.

"They're going to have to worry more about our community and their families and our young people more than they are about any gang that's involved in this. They're going to have to take a positive position and help law enforcement."

A cash reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of persons involved in the recent shootings. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 742-2330.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Milledgeville shooting death just latest in string of drive-by shootings ."