Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit with assistance from Georgia State Patrol SWAT arrested a man wanted for a recent double shooting on Embacadero Drive in Lithonia. Javoka Shumaker,  44, was located and arrested at an apartment complex in Lithonia. He was taken into custody for the Feb. 14,  double shootings of Paul Wilson and Jennifer Mullins. The shootings occurred in the presence of a minor.  Smith succumbed to his injuries.  Shumaker was transported to the DeKalb County Jail without incident and is being held without bond on felony charges of Murder-Malice, Aggravated Assault Weapon, and…

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DECATUR, GA—A mother who who went after a man who committed a sexual act with her 12-year-old daughter is now facing life in prison. Authorities say Danyale Harris, 42, tried “to take the law into her own hands,” resulting in the death of Juan Newkirk, a 19-year-old who accompanied Harris and ended up being killed in a shootout during the confrontation. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that jurors returned guilty verdicts on March 22 against Harris on Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. The man…

ATLANTA– Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Cooling Assistance, administered by the Georgia Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Family & Children Services, is available April 1 through July 31, 2024, or until funds are exhausted. ThiE federally-funded program assists low-income, elderly, and disabled Georgians with cooling bills through direct payments to home energy suppliers. The application period for LIHEAP Cooling Assistance opened on April 1, 2024, to Georgians aged 65 years of age and older or those who are medically homebound. All other eligible residents can apply starting May 1, 2024. Funds are administered through local Community Action…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) invites the best and the brightest to the RCPS Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the RCPS Board Room, Pine Street NE, Conyers. Conyers. Participants must pre-register by visitingwww.rockdaleschools.org/jobfair.  The district is seeking outstanding candidates for teaching positions in the 2024-2025 school year. RCPS schools with vacancies will be represented and interviews will be held during the Teacher Job Fair.   RCPS has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three traditional high schools, a virtual campus for grades 3-5 and 6-12 and four non-traditional schools (Rockdale Career Academy…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County Clerk of Courts Janice Morris will present the “Ask ALawyer Q & A Panel” on Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Rockdale County Auditorium, 903 Main St. N.W., Conyers. This event will provide the community with legal information from a panel of attorneys. The panel will cover topics related to Family Law, Criminal Law, Personal Injury, and Wills and Estates. Morris has assembled a team of experienced attorneys to answer attendees’ legal questions. Guest speakers include: Caycie Dix-Miller (Family Law) Reginald L. Winfrey (Criminal Law) Ronel Salters (Personal Injury) Saraj Siedentopf (Wills and…

DECATUR, GA- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston on Monday, April 1, announced a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against a Clarkston man accused of shooting and killing his friend. Jurors returned guilty verdicts against Phun Kam, 36, on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony. On May 9, 2021, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a call about a person shot at an apartment complex on Northern Avenue in Clarkston. They discovered Hrin Thawng, 29, lying just outside Kam’s front door…

ATLANTA — Last week, the Georgia Senate granted final passage to Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Sen. Emanuel Jones (D–Decatur). The bill introduces measures to establish an offense for knowingly attending and facilitating illegal drag races and to heighten penalties for reckless driving. Commenting on the passage of SB 10, Sen. Jones remarked, “I am extremely pleased to witness the successful advancement of this pivotal legislation through both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. With over three decades of experience in the automotive industry, this measure holds immense significance for me. It represents a crucial step towards combatting illegal drag racing…