Crime
Second Teen Arrested in Senior Skip Day Homicide at Newton County Park
Covington, GA – A second teenager has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a student at Denny Dobbs Park during a Senior Skip Day gathering last week, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
Tashshawn Lyons, 17, of Conyers, has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a minor, and reckless conduct.
Authorities revealed that Lyons, a student at Salem High School, sustained injuries while fleeing the scene and was hospitalized prior to his arrest.
He is currently in custody at the Newton County Detention Center.
This latest arrest follows the March 21 apprehension of Jarvis Hinton Jr., 16, of Covington, who faces identical charges.
Hinton is a student at Newton High School, according to officials.
Deputies responded to Denny Dobbs Park just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, after receiving reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, they discovered Justin Etienne suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
During the investigation, authorities determined that multiple student witnesses provided misleading information regarding the events leading up to the shooting.
Initially, some statements falsely suggested that Etienne was involved in the altercation, but investigators confirmed that he was an innocent bystander when the shooting occurred.
Law enforcement officials worked through conflicting testimonies, executed search warrants, and gathered critical evidence, ultimately leading to the arrests of Hinton and Lyons.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.