Arrests made in killing of 9-month-old

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police have made two arrests in connection with the death of a DeKalb County 9-month-old, sources told Channel 2's Erica Byfield.

Marco Watson, 36, and Devin Thomas, 18, are now both facing one count of murder and three counts of aggravated assault. They were already being held at the DeKalb County Jail on unrelated charges.

“I am very happy that they caught my son's killers,” the child’s mother, Tanyika Smith, said. “It’s a big relief me and my family can start grieving.”

Smith said she was holding her son, 9-month-old Kendarius Edwards, when two gunmen burst into her home on May 10.

Smith, two other women and the baby were shot more than 26 times, according to police.

DeKalb County police "suspect very strongly" that the shooting was in retaliation for another crime, and the targets were two brothers who also lived in the home. They believe Thomas may have been the friend of a woman who was murdered the same weekend and broke into the home to avenge her death.

Police gave some insight into the work his detectives put in to make these arrests.

“During the course of this ongoing investigation, detectives traced the leads, working around the clock non-stop to find justice in the death of that young child and also for the women who suffered wounds as well trying to protect their baby that night,” Cedric Alexander said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing, and they encourage anyone with additional information to come forward.

WSBTV