1 dead in Cherry Avenue shooting; community fearful after 3 shootings in 5 days

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - One person is dead after a shooting on Cherry Avenue, according to Michael Fowler, Dougherty County coroner.

Kawoski Antonio Newberry, 20, was identified as the victim of the shooting, according to APD.

The call about the shooting, which happened in the 600 block of Cherry Avenue, came in around 8 a.m. Wednesday. The caller said the victim was lying face down in a yard.

WALB asked APD if they believe the shooting is gang-related.

“We want to find out who committed these crimes," Michael Persley, APD chief, said. "Hold them accountable, and bring them to justice. Public’s help is very paramount to this.”

The APD Gang Task Force was called to assist with the investigation, but currently, there are no specifics if the shooting is gang-related.

Another shooting happened on Cherry Avenue Monday night.

A 15-year-old was shot at and hit in the multiple times in the leg.

It has not been confirmed the two shootings are related.

Cherry Avenue neighborhood reacts

While WALB was at the scene, nearly 40 people who live close by told us they are scared.

Some said told a WALB reporter that it was not safe to be out there. A number of people were at the scene of the incident Wednesday morning and told WALB they are moving out of their houses until the recent shootings are solved.

People have told WALB in person and on social media that they’re afraid gang retaliation is happening all over the city.

Almost everyone WALB spoke with didn’t want to be seen on camera. They said they’re afraid of becoming the next target.

“It’s not safe,” one resident said. “It’s not safe to sit on your porch. Not safe to stand on the side of the street to talk to somebody without a stray bullet hitting you. You don’t know where the bullet came from. Then next thing you know, you done got hit and you’re dead. Now, I was only out there for about 20 minutes. But I heard people say they were scared at least four times."

Some residents said they are fed up with the crime in Albany. Some even said they feel this is not the end, and they’re now scared for their lives.

“To be honest with you. I’m scared. I’m scared to actual live in Albany. I’m really scared,” the Albany man said.

The Albany man said he didn’t want to go on camera because he’s afraid for his life.

“I can sit on the porch or sometimes I be wanting to sit on the porch, but I’m scared to,” he said.

The man lives a street over from Cherry Avenue, where Newberry was found dead.

“I was like wow, cause you know on this particular street, there’s so much going on," he said. Not just this street but the street over. The street over. It’s so much going on."

“I think if I move back to Florida, I’ll be alright," he said. “But right now, I’m scared to live in Albany. I be scared to walk around to the store around the corner and that’s just right there.”

Other residents said they want it all to stop as they feel no place or no one is safe.

“They walk the streets all times of night. Stop them. What you doing out here this time of night? Stop them man,” the Albany man said. “You can’t walk out your door and just say ‘I’m going to go to the corner.’ And who knows... ‘pow,’ you done got hit. Stray bullet.”

APD investigating all three shootings

Albany Police are asking for the public’s help to solve the three shootings that have happened since Saturday.

Police said Walter Favors, 15, suffered multiple shots to the leg in the 900 block of Cherry Avenue.

The shooting happened Monday night down the street from where Newberry died.

Police are also still investigating the death Quamyia Jones, 17, who was killed early Saturday morning.

It happened on the 1900 block of West Highland Avenue.

No suspects have been named and the investigation is ongoing for all three.

Albany Police said they are investigating the shootings thoroughly.

Currently, there is no word if the shootings are connected or if they’re gang-related. Albany police told WALB they are investigating to see if they are.

WALB spoke with Persley on Tuesday about the two shootings.

Persley is encouraging anyone who knows anything about these cases to call police immediately.

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