Procession of hearses highlights high number of 2023 homicides in Albany

ALBANY, Ga. — A parade of sorts highlighted the impact of violent crime on some of Albany, Georgia’s most violent neighborhoods on Tuesday.

The Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler organized a procession of 21 hearses to drive a route through some of the roughest neighborhoods on its way downtown.

The procession included first responders and was meant to highlight violent crime and its impact on the community.

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The number of hearses relates to the 20 homicide victims killed so far in 2023, plus one for a 9-year-old boy killed in his bed during a 2021 drive-by shooting.

Each hearse featured the name of one of the victims.

Fowler told The Albany Herald that out of the 20 killings in 2023 in the city, 19 were black-on-black violence and nearly all were committed with guns.

The last procession like this was held in 2017 when about 400 people attended, the coroner told The Albany Herald.

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