Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Gwinnett County Police detectives have charged a Stone Mountain woman with the murder of her murder. Brittany Morris, 33, has been charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Knife during Commission of a Felony in connection with the death of her mother, Janet Morris, 62.  Police said the domestic-related incident took place on Thursday, Sept. 25, around 4:30 p.m. Officers from the South Precinct responded to a “person down” call in the 3000 block of Deshong Drive in unincorporated Stone Mountain.  When officers arrived at the residence, they found an adult female—the mother—deceased with what…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA- DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson today announced the launch of Digital Shield, an $18.9 million countywide initiative that will deploy Flock Safety technology to strengthen public safety and fight crime across DeKalb. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the investment, positioning DeKalb as a metro Atlanta leader in technology-driven crime prevention. “Digital Shield is about protecting every corner of DeKalb,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “This unprecedented investment gives our police department the tools to prevent crime, solve cases faster, and give residents the peace of mind they deserve. This is a defining moment for how we reimagine…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Norcross mother has pled guilty to murder in connection with the beating death of her 8-year-old daughter. Brittany Nicole Hall, 31, pled guilty to felony murder, 11 counts of cruelty to children, concealing the death of another and making false statements for the 2021 death of Amari Hall. Brittany Hall was sentenced to life in prison, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said on Wednesday, Sept. 24.  Hall and her girlfriend, Celeste Owens, reported Amari Hall missing on Nov. 19, 2021. The couple, who lived with Amari Hall and her two younger siblings in a Norcross…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– On Satursday, Sept. 27, DeKalb Public Health will host a drive-thru vaccination event at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2538 Panola Rd., City of Stonecrest. Pre-registration is not required. Three variations of flu shot will be available – Fluarix, for children 6 months and older; Flublok for individuals 9 years and older; immunocompromised individuals, or those who would like a vaccine that may give a higher level of protection; and Fluzone High-Dose for ages 65 years and older, providing a higher level of protection for this age group. In addition to flu shots, FluMist,…

DECATUR, GA – To accommodate walk-in customers paying property taxes at the tax commissioner’s office located at 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur, extended hours are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Sept. 30. Taxpayers will use the UGA Extension entrance at the front of the building until Sept. 30. Customers with disabilities may still use the main entrance off Northern Avenue. “Our central property tax office will be busy the week before the September 30 deadline for tax payments. I encourage owners who prefer to make a payment in person to consider visiting our satellite office locations at…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday, Sept. 22, that another inmate has died while in custody at the DeKalb County Jail. The death is the jail’s seventh inmate death reported this year. Authorities say that 27-year-old Decatur resident Larynz Redd was found unresponsive in the jail on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Immediate emergency medical services were provided by on-site health services and DeKalb EMS, but Redd was pronounced deceased, the Sheriff’s Office stated. Redd had been in custody since May 2024. The cause of his death is under investigation. Officials say, however,…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office announced a guilty plea in the 2023 death of a child who was shot with his father’s unattended firearm. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, Dante Lamar Daugherty, 44, pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree, and two counts of Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree in connection with the death of his son, Z’ayre Daugherty, 7, on Sept. 4, 2023.  According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) responded around 6:10 p.m. to a call of a person shot at a gas station in the 1800 block of…