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Print This StoryMan Sought in Teen's Killing
Possible Suspect Held in Connection with Attack
POSTED: 6:20 am EST March 31,
2004
UPDATED: 1:14 pm EST March 31,
2004
NEWNAN -- Coweta County authorities were searching Wednesday for one of two suspects who allegedly shot and killed a teen during a violent home invasion in which two other victims were wounded.
Roderick Calvin Thomas, 24, of College Park was being sought in connection with the killing of Heather Rhodes, 17, of Peachtree City. She was gunned down during a Tuesday night attack at the Lakeside Apartments, located on Bullsboro Drive, around 10:30 p.m. A second man is in custody but he has not yet been identified.Two other men in apartment number 821 were shot and wounded. Mandrell Mahama, an apartment resident, and Steven Devereux, 22, of Fayetteville, who was visiting the apartment, were taken to metro area hospitals for treatment. Devereux was listed in serious condition at Atlanta Medical Center and Mahama was listed in stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital
Coweta Sheriff Mike Yeager said two men knocked on the door and were allowed in the apartment before gunfire erupted. He said the suspects used a 12-gauge shotgun to carry out the attack, and it appears that the attack was drug related.
"It's got the appearance of a home invasion but it's possible that this was some type of plan and they knew who they were going after or what they were going after," Yeager said immediately after the killing.Around 3 a.m., authorities recovered an Oldsmobile believed to have been used by the suspects.Residents said they were shocked by the attack."As soon as I heard the shots I knew something had happened so I told my kids to hit the floor," resident Jackie Lakas said. "I went up there to see if I could help and the poor girl was dead and another boy was hurt."One of the victims hurt in the attack fled from the scene and sought help but went to a vacant apartment."I saw blood along the walls going into the apartment," said resident Kevin Cardin, who leased the apartment but had removed his belongings because he was moving out. "When I went to open the door I realized the door had been kicked in and there was blood all over the floor and inside the doorway."Lakas said the shooting has changed the way she views her home."I want out of my lease," she said. "I feel like I'm living in a war zone."Rhodes was a senior at Starr's Mill High in Peachtree City. She was visiting Mahama, her boyfriend, when the shooting occurred, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Grief counselors were dispatched to the girl's school to work with students who needed them.Channel 2 Action News reporters JaQuitta Williams and David Bodden contributed to this report.
Roderick Calvin Thomas, 24, of College Park was being sought in connection with the killing of Heather Rhodes, 17, of Peachtree City. She was gunned down during a Tuesday night attack at the Lakeside Apartments, located on Bullsboro Drive, around 10:30 p.m. A second man is in custody but he has not yet been identified.Two other men in apartment number 821 were shot and wounded. Mandrell Mahama, an apartment resident, and Steven Devereux, 22, of Fayetteville, who was visiting the apartment, were taken to metro area hospitals for treatment. Devereux was listed in serious condition at Atlanta Medical Center and Mahama was listed in stable condition at Grady Memorial HospitalCoweta Sheriff Mike Yeager said two men knocked on the door and were allowed in the apartment before gunfire erupted. He said the suspects used a 12-gauge shotgun to carry out the attack, and it appears that the attack was drug related."It's got the appearance of a home invasion but it's possible that this was some type of plan and they knew who they were going after or what they were going after," Yeager said immediately after the killing.Around 3 a.m., authorities recovered an Oldsmobile believed to have been used by the suspects.Residents said they were shocked by the attack."As soon as I heard the shots I knew something had happened so I told my kids to hit the floor," resident Jackie Lakas said. "I went up there to see if I could help and the poor girl was dead and another boy was hurt."One of the victims hurt in the attack fled from the scene and sought help but went to a vacant apartment."I saw blood along the walls going into the apartment," said resident Kevin Cardin, who leased the apartment but had removed his belongings because he was moving out. "When I went to open the door I realized the door had been kicked in and there was blood all over the floor and inside the doorway."Lakas said the shooting has changed the way she views her home."I want out of my lease," she said. "I feel like I'm living in a war zone."Rhodes was a senior at Starr's Mill High in Peachtree City. She was visiting Mahama, her boyfriend, when the shooting occurred, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Grief counselors were dispatched to the girl's school to work with students who needed them.Channel 2 Action News reporters JaQuitta Williams and David Bodden contributed to this report. | Video |
JaQuitta Williams reportsCopyright 2005 by WSBTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
