Clayton News Daily

By Ed Brock

Police have made two arrests in connection with a shootout in which a 4-year-old boy was killed. More arrests are expected.

Investigators believe that 24-year-old Deontrez Williams of Fayetteville and a 16-year-old male arrested Thursday night, along with other people they are questioning in the case, might have gang connections, Riverdale Police Chief Greg Barney said.

Williams and the teen are charged with felony murder and Barney said more arrests are expected.

On June 6 4-year-old Trevon Wilson was killed while he was walking with his grandmother Glenda Darville in Riverdale Park on Church Street. A gunfight broke out between "multiple suspects" and about 50 rounds were fired, according to Riverdale police.

The arrests came following a raid on a house on Lyle Road by Riverdale and Clayton County police officers that occurred at about 8 p.m. Thursday. The arrests were also a result of information gathered in a joint investigation by the two departments and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation but Barney added that he could not provide more information because the investigation is ongoing.

Barney said he did not know if any weapons were seized in connection with the shooting and the investigators do not have any information on whether Williams or the teen were directly responsible for Wilson's death.

Police have previously identified several gangs operating in the Riverdale area. One of those gangs is called the Hit Squad. The Hit Squad is believed to have been responsible for a July 2003 gunfight at Kimberly Forest Apartments on Riverdale Road in which 17-year-old Derrek Henry of Louisiana was injured.

It's time for the county to face the fact that there is a gang problem here, said Victor Hill, Clayton County police detective and candidate for sheriff.

"I am sick and tired of seeing games played with words of what is a gang," Hill said. "We need to call it what it is. Let's admit we have a problem and do something to address it."

Wilson's family is expected to hold a press conference on Saturday. The funeral for the boy is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. at World Changers Church International at 2500 Burdette Road in Atlanta.

A viewing was held Friday evening at Williamson Mortuary on Ga. Highway 138 in Riverdale.