Manhunt for murder suspects near UGA campus
ATHENS, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Authorities spent Wednesday afternoon and evening searching for two suspects in the murder of a 19-year-old Oconee County man.
Tensions ran high Wednesday afternoon around the State Botanical Garden near the University of Georgia campus when a vehicle associated with one of the murder suspects was spotted. There was a heavy police presence in and around the Garden which was closed early apparently due to the police activity.
"I don't know anything other than they were pursuing somebody that was accused of some sort of crime," said Tim Slagle after he had learned of a UGA campus alert sent out warning students of the police activity.
Investigators told FOX 5 News a family member of a suspect was located and was being questioned.
Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry said there was never any danger on the nearby UGA campus itself.
"There was never any contact with the suspect on campus or actually in the car," said Sheriff Berry.
The sheriff said investigators are searching for two suspects involved in the murder of Joseph Jackson.
The 19-year-old was shot outside the home he shares with his grandparents on Whippoorwill Road late at night July 16. The severely injured Jackson stumbled some 50 yards or so to the home where his grandfather found him outside.
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Sheriff Berry said Investigators are making headway in the case even though Jackson died at the hospital before he could tell who shot him.
"I feel like we got some real good leads right now. We're talking about four suspects, two have been taken into custody," said Sheriff Berry.
The sheriff said the two taken into custody are brothers, 18-year-old Akhemu Dunston and 19-year-old Quentin Dunston. Sheriff Berry said both were arrested in Athens on Monday but provided no details. He said each is facing a charge of murder for their part in the death of Joseph Jackson whose demise was on the minds of some visitors turned away from the Botanical Garden.
"Nobody deserves this, nobody's family deserves to find out that their child is dead, so I hope they get justice," said Chelsea Huntley, an Athens resident.
Sheriff Berry told FOX 5 News he expects to make more arrests soon.
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