Crime
18-year-old Javen Turner killed in Sparta shooting, 5 charged with murder
Authorities have charged four adults and a juvenile in connection with the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man in Sparta, Georgia, on Friday afternoon.
The victim, identified as Javen Lamont Turner of Sparta, was critically injured in the shooting at the intersection of Broad Street and Miles Street. Turner succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.
According to a police news release, the following individuals have been charged with felony murder:
- Nehemiah Henderson, 22, of Sparta
- Armarion Hunt, 20, of Sparta (still at large)
- Darrion Deandre Green, 18, of Thompson
- Mikez Yaraus Edwards, 18, of Sparta
Additionally, a juvenile suspect is being held at the Regional Youth Detention Center.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) revealed that around 3 p.m. on Friday, the Hancock County 911 center received reports of a shooting involving two vehicles. Witnesses stated that individuals in one car opened fire on another vehicle. Turner, a passenger, was struck multiple times. He was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
The GBI has also reported another person injured in the incident, although their condition remains undisclosed.
The Sparta Police Department requested assistance from the GBI to investigate the case further. As of now, Hunt remains at large, and law enforcement continues to search for him.
The GBI urges anyone with information about this case to come forward. Tips can be submitted via:
- Phone: GBI Regional Investigative Office in Milledgeville at (478) 445-4173 or the anonymous tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477)
- Online: GBI Tip Submission Portal
- Mobile App: See Something, Send Something
This remains an active investigation, and additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Crime
St. Petersburg doctor 59-year-old Stephen Andrew Leedy arrested after allegedly instructing young girls to film sex acts while injuring themselves
St. Petersburg, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Stephen Andrew Leedy (59, St. Petersburg) on charges related to the production of child sexual abuse material and coercion of minors to engage in sexual activity.
The Charges:
- Three counts of production of child sexual abuse material
- Two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity
Potential Penalty:
- Life in federal prison, if convicted on all counts
Leedy, a palliative care doctor in the Tampa Bay area, allegedly used the online alias “maximumuncle#9112” to exploit and abuse approximately ten minors.
Through online interactions, Leedy is accused of instructing these minors to produce sexually explicit content and to engage in self-harm, including cutting, choking, and hanging.
Tragically, one of the victims, identified as Minor Victim 1, was found deceased by hanging in November 2021, in a manner consistent with Leedy’s prior instructions.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal wrongdoing, and Leedy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
This case is the result of a collaborative effort by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the FBI’s Tampa Office, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department, the FBI’s Atlanta Office, and the Holly Springs Police Department.
The prosecution will be handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood 1 unites federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children and to rescue victims.