Many at the meeting expressed their concerns over retaliation and and the ongoing violence saying in order to stop it, more community members have to go out to the streets and try to make a change instead of waiting for it to happen.
/ Colby Gallagher
ALBANY, GA --
After Sunday's double murder, local law enforcement met with the Stop the Violence group to talk about how the community can help not only solve crimes but prevent them as well.
Albany Police Department Chief John Proctor says his team has suspects in Sunday's fatal drive-by shooting of 21-year- old William Davis Jr. and 20-year-old Desmond Williams, but now the department needs as much information from the public as possible to help strengthen the case enough to hand over to the District Attorney's Office.
Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler says through the initial autopsy report, they were able to determine Williams and Davis were both killed by one gunshot wound each during the shooting, but officials are now trying to find out how many guns were used and what types they were.
Chief Proctor says through information they've already received, Sunday's shooting seems to be a senseless response to an earlier incident where two groups bumped into each other and had an altercation. Because of this, Proctor says if people had spoken up about the first fight, Williams and Davis' deaths could have been prevented which is why it's crucial to speak up.
Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul agrees saying communication is key to all things, from congress to marriage and helping keep the streets safe. Sproul and his team are aiding the APD in the case to try and solve it as quickly as possible, but some are worried the violence won't stop with an arrest.
Many at the meeting expressed their concerns over retaliation and and the ongoing violence saying in order to stop it, more community members have to go out to the streets and try to make a change instead of waiting for it to happen.
Cynthia Butler says after receiving the call that Davis, someone she used to babysit throughout his childhood, was killed, she knew that she had to get involved. Butler says she came to the meeting to find out what else she can do to try and help stop this from happening to someone else.
Stop the Violence Chair Bishop Frederick Williams says residents will get a chance to go straight to the neighborhood of the crime during a prayer vigil on Thursday that they're hoping will inspire more people to help make a positive change and become involved.
The vigil will start at 5:30 p.m. on South Madison Street off of West Oakridge Drive but Williams says they will release an official address on Wednesday.
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