Gwinnett County

Man out on bond for shooting at Gwinnett park accused of shooting someone at another park

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A judge denied bond Wednesday to a man accused of firing shots in two Gwinnett County parks just weeks apart.

Officials say he was out on bond for the first shooting when he went to a park just two miles away and shot someone.

Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson was in the courtroom Wednesday as Todd Celestine, 19, faced a judge after his latest arrest.

Gwinnett County police said Celestine shot a man at Sweet Water Park earlier this month just weeks after a similar arrest.

“It was a crowded park during daylight hours,” Cpl. D.F. Keshler with the Gwinnett County Police Department said during his testimony before the court Wednesday.

Keshler said Celestine and another suspect, Jayhlen Trotter, 19, went to Sweet Water Park to smoke. While they were there, just before 8 p.m., police said the two men shot at a 20-year-old in his car, also hitting several parked cars with bullets.

“We heard about six to eight gunshots,” witness Tarsheika West said.

West told Johnson that she was concerned about stray bullets before the shooters left in a red car.

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“Especially with kids being at that park, getting hit by stray bullets,” West said.

The victim survived after getting shot twice and said there was no argument with the suspect.

“He stated he knew who he was from school, but stated he didn’t have an issue with him,” Keshler said.

Celestine turned himself in a week later but not before police say they found his red car after he ran from police.

“Another officer located the vehicle at Jones Bridge Park, the vehicle fled again, they blocked the vehicle in the park, and the driver foot bailed and was not apprehended,” Keshler said.

The shooting happened 19 days after police arrested Celestine for allegedly using Club Drive Park for target practice with a different gun.

This time - a judge kept him in jail.

“I’m denying bond in this case based on risk or threat to the community,” the judge told Celestine.

Police say the victim in this case had a gun with him and returned fire at the suspect’s car but won’t face charges.

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