Coroner response to two homicides in 24 hours; “It’s senseless”

ALBANY, GA – The Albany Police Department and the coroner’s office had a very busy weekend as they continue to investigate two homicides that occurred in less than 24 hours.

“It’s unheard of for two homicides in less than 24 hours, but now every weekend you have a shooting. It’s like it’s getting worse and worse,” said Michael Fowler, Dougherty County coroner.
 
According to Albany Police, shortly before 1:30 AM Saturday (March 18th), 18-year-old Claudarious Ceasar was fatally shot in the neck when Shamya Haynes, his girlfriend, asked him to go smoke outside.

Haynes told officials as soon as he stepped out of the door, shots were fired.

The coroner pronounced Caesar dead on scene at 2:20.

Albany Police would issue an alert for the public to be on the lookout for 23 year old Michael Jermone Jackson.

Less than 24 hours later, gun violence struck a married couple 7 miles from where Ceasar was murdered.

On Saturday, officers arrived in the 1100 block of S. Cleveland St. before 9 PM where they found a maroon Nissan Altima with bullet holes on all sides.

The driver, 34 year old Antwon Penn, was shot in the head and died on scene.

His wife, 31 year old Courtney Penn, was rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds to the head and arm.

She still remains in critical condition.

Courtney told officers she and her husband were on the way to pick up a family member from a dance when their car was shot up by two suspects standing in the roadway.

She said one of the suspects was wearing a grey hoodie and black pants before fleeing the scene.

Penn’s death became the 4th homicide to occur in Albany since January first, with a possible 5th depending on autopsy results.

Fowler says in his 11 years as Dougherty County’s Coroner, these back to back killings of  innocent people, is uncalled for.

“I say it’s senseless. we don’t know why people are shooting people up like this.  Innocent people sometimes and that’s sad. my heart goes out to the families. You can still be doing the right thing and become a victim,” said Fowler.

Many suspects and victims involved in these shootings range from age 14 to 18 years old.

“It’s not just in certain neighborhoods, it’s all over the world, and it’s like it’s getting worse. Due to the fact anyone can get a gun now, and all the violence on TV. Most of the time people want to solve a problem by picking up a gun, and that’s not the way to solve the problem. Normally you talk, communicate and talk it out, get in a fight and tomorrow you’ll be friends again. But, now, the first thing they grab is a gun,” said Fowler.

The Coroner says it will take both the community and law enforcement to reduce the ongoing violence.

“Sometimes they see things and are afraid to say something about it. But, you have to talk up, if not, it could be your loved one. So, we need to talk up and encourage the kids to put the guns down. When you take a life, you destroy two families. One family who lost a loved one, then another family has one going to jail. So, in a sense that’s two lives taken off the street. It just doesn’t make sense,” said Fowler.

Coroner Fowler reiterated the importance of ‘if you know something, say something.’

If you know anything about the incidents that happened over the weekend you are urged to call the Albany Police Department at (229) 432-2100… updates to come as we receive them.

This is a developing story, stay with CBS 44 South Georgia for updates.

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