DeKalb County

6 arrested after teen fatally shot in drive-by

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police have made an arrest after a 15-year-old innocent bystander was killed, caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting.

Keaira Palmer, 15,

was shot to death around 12:30 a.m. Aug. 3 while walking out of a convenience store

on Glenwood Road toward an apartment complex, just feet way from Palmer's front door.

Police announced Wednesday that six people have been arrested in the teen’s death.

"It’s just so unfortunate for a young person to lose her life simply for being in her neighborhood," DeKalb County Public Safety Director Dr. Cedric Alexander told Channel 2’s Carl Willis.

Willis also spoke to Palmer’s mother, Lawanda Riley, who was happy over the news of the arrests.

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"(I have) tears of joy,” Riley told Willis. “So many families don't get closure. So many families don't get just a piece of closure. I got six pieces."

Roderick Harris, 17, Michael Miller, 22, Sharod Jackson, 18, and Roderick Jackson, 18, and two juveniles are in custody and have been charged with felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and six counts of felony criminal gang activity.

Alexander said the arrest actually came last week.

“From the time of the shooting to the time the arrests were made was really very quick. We just did not report it immediately because it was an ongoing investigation,” he told Willis.

Alexander said police still need to catch 25 year old Tahja Williams.

"We want to catch him. We consider him to be a ringleader of this group and we also consider him to be armed and very dangerous," Alexander said.

Last Wednesday, Palmer was walking to a friend's house and the corner store around 12:30 a.m. %

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DeKalb County police say she was with three men when a shootout began. All of the men survived.

Alexander said the public cannot stand silent.

"Even if you don't give us your name, give us a lead. Give us information. Give us a name. Give us a vehicle, give us a tag number. Give something that can be helpful to bring these bad people off the street," Alexander said.

As for Williams, Alexander said his remaining time on the street will be short.

"You can rest assured that we're going to find you and we're not going to stop until we find you," Alexander said.

"You can't hide forever. You're not going to hide forever," Riley told Willis.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts or more information on this shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.

Cox Media Group

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