Crime
18-Year-Old Killed in Shooting at Denny Dobbs Park During Senior Skip Day
NEWTON COUNTY, GA – Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon at Denny Dobbs Park.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) confirmed that an 18-year-old male, identified as Justin Etienne, succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during the incident.
The shooting took place between approximately 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. at the park, which was a gathering location for students participating in Senior Skip Day.
Reports indicate that students from two Rockdale County schools and one Newton County school had initially met at a park in Rockdale before relocating to Denny Dobbs Park.
It is unclear at this time whether the victim was a student.
The NCSO has not yet identified any suspects or determined a motive for the shooting. The case is now being treated as a homicide.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing first responders assisting potential victims, but the full scope of the incident remains under investigation.
As a precautionary measure, nearby Oak Hill Elementary School was placed on lockdown following the shooting.
The lockdown was lifted later in the evening, and students in the after-school academic program were dismissed at 6:00 p.m.
Authorities have assured the public that this was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
The investigation remains active, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.
Crime
Victims Identified in Deadly Robeson County Mass Shooting
Two Dead, 13 Injured in Mass Shooting at Large Party in Robeson County, North Carolina
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — A late-night party in eastern North Carolina turned deadly early Saturday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that deputies were called to the scene on Dixon Drive, just outside the town of Maxton, at approximately 3:00 a.m. following reports of a shooting at a large outdoor gathering attended by more than 150 people.
When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded — witnesses said over 150 individuals fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son Nehemiah Locklear.
Several other victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment.
Sheriff Wilkins stated that, based on preliminary findings, the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence.
Detectives are working to determine the motive and identify all parties involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—or anyone who attended the gathering and witnessed the incident—to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.
“We know there were many people present when this occurred,” Sheriff Wilkins said. “If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”