By Jim Wallace - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Three people were gunned down in drive-by shootings in a ten block radius in South Albany.
Law enforcement officers confirmed what was already suspected, it was gang violence, apparent retaliation for a fight that happened last night.
The first shooting happened just after 12:30. A man was shot while in his car at 1301 South McKinley Street. A friend drove him toward the hospital and an ambulance met them at Oglethorpe and Davis.
Then about 20 minutes later, two other men were gunned down on South McKinley Street, near Gordon Avenue. Even though they'd been shot, they both took off running. Police found them at the intersection of South McKinley and Corn Avenue.
At 1301 South McKinley about 12:40 police say Terrance Stevens was shot by someone inside a 1996 or 1997 Grey Lincoln Towncar. A friend of Stevens tried to help his wounded buddy.
"Another individual actually put him in the car and was trying to transport him to the hospital when they were stopped at Davis and Ogelthorpe," Albany Police Spokesperson Steve Butler said.
During the peak of lunchtime traffic, EMS took the wounded Stevens from the blood spattered car to an ambulance and then to a hospital. Just minutes later shots rang out again at Gordon Avenue and South McKinley, this time from inside a White Escalade.
Police say Courtney Turner was hit in the left forearm, and Devonte Colvin in the right thigh.
"The individuals were shot at Gordon and McKinley, and they proceeded to run and this was where they were found," Butler said.
They were found at the corner of South McKinley and Corn Avenue, near the old Lincoln Magnet School, a building that's now the Georgia Learning Resource Center. The school was quickly locked down as were Southside Middle and Monroe High Schools nearby.
Dozens of people watched as Police picked up evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Neighbors tell us gangs are active around here. "The more you talk to them about the danger and the involvement and the hurt it causes people, it just seems like the worse and worse it gets," said Mae Ouida Cicero.
"It really scares me. Makes me scared to live in this neighborhood. Makes me want to move," Rosa Jones said
"I'm afraid," said another woman who was afraid to give her name. "I'm fixing to move. Because of this you are gonig to move? This and it's just crazy around here. It don't even make sense."
Several people we talked with, who did not want to go on camera, said this was retribution for a fight at a nightclub last night between two rival gangs. Police will not confirm that, but admit they've heard that as well.
Police are still combing the city looking for those two cars, but so far no arrests in these three shootings.
Two of the three gunshot victims have already been released from the hospital.
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