Author: On Common Ground News

Decatur, GA –Authorities are investigating the death of a 57-year-old inmate who died on Sunday at the DeKalb County Jail, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday, Feb. 16.  Michael Gafa, who had been in custody since September 2025, was found unresponsive in his cell, authorities said in a news release.  “On-site medical staff and DeKalb EMS responded immediately, however, Mr. Gafa was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. “The DeKalb Sheriff’s Office takes any loss of life in our custody very seriously,” said Sheriff Melody M. Maddox. “While there is no indication of foul play or…

Gwinnett County, GA– Fugitive Keleeyus Maquareus Long is in custody at the Gwinnett County Jail without bond on multiple charges including rape, robbery, and home invasion, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday, Feb. 16. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, located and arrested Long in Norcross, GA pm Feb. 11.  Long had active warrants for Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, Home Invasion – 1st Degree, three counts of Rape, Aggravated Sodomy, False Imprisonment, and Cruelty to Children in the 3rd Degree.  Long also was wanted by the City of South Fulton Police Department…

ATLANTA– Breakthrough Atlanta is seeking undergraduate college students for teaching internships this summer. Internships are available for an eight-week program teaching middle schoolers and a three-week program teaching rising 10th graders.  See below for virtual informational sessions that will be held on Monday, Feb. 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  The paid internships support Breakthrough Atlanta’s dual mission to increase academic opportunity for highly motivated, underserved students and get them into college ready to succeed; and inspire and develop the next generation of teachers and educational leaders.  Teaching Fellows gain first-hand teaching experience through instructing students in Breakthrough Atlanta’s Summer Program, a program…

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist ATLANTA–Southwest DeKalb County High School senior Pilar King became the 15th DeKalb girls’ swimmer to become a three-time gold medal winner at the recent GHSA State Swimming and Diving Championships with a pair of big wins at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta. King, a University of Arizona signee, swam to the gold in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke to climb into that 15th spot in the long storied history of DeKalb County swimming history. She is the first Southwest DeKalb swimmer to claim three gold medals in state competition. The senior…

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist  MORROW, GA—Miller Grove high senior Demond Hutchins became the first Wolverine to claim a GHSA state wrestling title with his championship match win on Saturday at the Morrow Event Center. Hutchins entered the title match undefeated on the season to take on Morgan County’s Kaleo Wilcoxson (2 pins, a 7-5 decision to reach the finals) in the finals. Hutchins put together three takedowns through the first two rounds to lead 9-2 with one round to go. The senior then made it 45-0 on the season picking up a point and then a takedown to…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The DeKalb County School District is notifying residents and community members of ascheduled construction-related rock blasting that will take place at Cross Keys High School on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at approximately 2 p.m. The controlled blast is part of ongoing construction and site preparation efforts on campus. Residents and businesses in the vicinity of the school may hear a loud noise and feel minor vibrations at the time of the blast. These effects are expected to be brief and pose no risk to the community. “We appreciate the community’s understanding as we continue to make improvements that support our students…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Weather permitting, the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) construction partners this week will temporarily close interstate lanes at the locations below for the I-285/I-20 East Interchange project. The project will reconstruct the interstate system-to-system ramps at the I-285/I-20 East Interchange and add a combination of collector-distributor (CD), or connecting lanes, and auxiliary lanes along I-20 east of the interchange and I-285 north of the interchange. DAYTIME CLOSURES:  Feb. 13- 20,  9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  I-20 Eastbound: Single, right- or left-lane and shoulder closure from Wesley Chapel Road (MM 69.5) to Panola Road (MM 71.3) I-20 Eastbound: Single, right- or left-lane and shoulder closure…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett jury found a Gangster Disciple member guilty of shooting and a man he believed stole a gun from a fellow gang member. Dametris Dameon Bush, 34, was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of unlawful criminal gang activity, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the June 2025 shooting death of 29-year-old Andre Sharron Jones, Jr. Bush was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 40 years on Feb. 9. “There is no place for violent gang…