Armed Robbery Reported At Metro-Area Hotel

The Winder Police Department said it is investigating an armed robbery that occurred Tuesday morning at a hotel.

Police said an armed man entered the lobby of the Best Western located at 177 West Athens Street. The man approached the front desk and demanded the clerk gave him the register drawer containing an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect left the area driving a gold-colored Ford Taurus, police said.

Investigators are in the process of reviewing the surveillance footage from the hotel and the surrounding areas. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Gregg Teatino. at 678-425-6873.

Cobb Woman Shot During Attempted ATM Robbery

A 38-year-old woman was shot Monday after a masked man tried to rob her while she was making a deposit at a bank, Cobb police said.

According to the police report, a masked man approached a woman making a deposit at the Bank Of America on South Cobb Drive at about 3:45 p.m. When the victim hit the horn, to alert people nearby, the masked man shot her in the arm, police said.

The masked man then fled the scene. The victim was able to drive herself to Emory Hospital where she was treated and released.

2 Sentenced For Armed Robberies In Stone Mountain

One man and one woman have been sentenced to prison for a series of armed robberies and aggravated assaults that occurred at three separate apartment complexes in Stone Mountain, the DeKalb County District Attorney Office said.

There were four victims in the crimes that happened on Dec. 1, 2008.

The motive for the robberies was money and the defendants used a .357-caliber Magnum to pistol whip the victims, the DeKalb County District Attorney Office said.

Cedric Wilkerson was sentenced to four life sentences and Whitney McGlasker has been sentenced to 30 years, but only has to serve 20 behind bars. The remaining 10 years of McGlasker's sentence will be served on probation, the DeKalb County District Attorney office said.

Officials: 21 Month Old Child Dead, Was Left Inside Parked Van

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a 21-month-old child.

A preliminary investigation indicates Joseph Chatmon was left inside a parked vehicle at Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School in Forsyth, officials said.

Investigators said the child, restrained in a child safety seat, was left inside the vehicle from the time his mother, 23-year-old India Chatmon, arrived at work Friday morning, until she left work late that afternoon.

Chatmon is an employee at the school. Officials said as soon as Chatom discovered her son in the van, she immediately drove to the Monroe County Emergency Room with the child where he died.

The body was transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for an autopsy, officials said. This incident is still under investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Swastikas, Obscenities Spray-Painted In Neighborhood

Sandy Springs police are investigating a possible hate crime involving graffiti.

Someone spray-painted swastikas and obscene words on about 14 signs, mailboxes and cars in a neighborhood near Dalrymple Road on Saturday.

"I've been here 27 years, and this is the first time I've seen this happen," said Shabah Shalabi, a resident of the neighborhood.

"The comments were unsettling," said Marjorie Kassel, a resident in the neighborhood. Investigators said they were taking pictures and conducting interviews on Monday.

Some neighbors told Channel 2's Sbarge that they suspect the graffiti was part of a teen prank.

Kidnapped Students: 'Could Not Get Through To 911'

Two men are in custody after police said they carjacked four college students at gunpoint and forced two of them into the trunk of the car, Atlanta police said.

One victim told WSB-TV he tried numerous times to call 911 for help, but was not able to get a hold of anyone. He eventually was able to reach a Morehouse dispatcher who helped save the students. This area is in the jurisdiction of the city of Atlanta 911 Center.

The victims told Channel 2 they were near Peeples Street in southwest Atlanta Sunday evening when three men with guns approached their car and demanded the students give up everything they had.

The students gave up their wallets, jewelry and ATM cards, investigators said. The victims attend both Morehouse and Clark Atlanta University.

One victim said that one of the suspects said, "We have no problem killing you if you don't do what we want."

Police said the armed men then decided to take the four students to a Wachovia ATM on Lee Street, but one of the students locked in the trunk still had his cell phone in his pocket. That student called Morehouse dispatch from the trunk and gave police a description of the Buick Lacrosse.

Police said they arrested two of the suspects. The victims told Channel 2 that there were four suspects and one was on the loose.

One of the suspects refused to answer questions from Channel 2 Action News reporter Ryan Young.

Jevontay Fleetwood, 17, faces four counts of armed robbery, kidnapping and hijacking, among other charges. He appeared in court at 11 a.m. Monday and is in jail. The second suspect in custody is a juvenile.

Gwinnett Officer Charged With DUI

A Gwinnett County officer cleared of wrongdoing in a deadly shooting now faces a DUI charge.

A state trooper arrested Officer Lyndsey Perry in Hall County Saturday, Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said.

Wright said she was pulled over by a GSP trooper at 2:19 a.m. for speeding on Ga. 13 at Friendship Road. Perry was driving her personal vehicle. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected the smell of alcohol. Perry was asked to take a breathalyzer test, but refused, Wright said. Under Georgia law, refusing to take a breathalyzer test results in the suspension of one's driver's license.

On July 21, Officer Perry responded to a Duluth home after a woman, Barbara Baker, reported her daughter, Penny Schwartz, was threatening suicide.

The investigation showed Schwartz pointed a gun at Perry who then fired, killing both Schwartz and Baker. Perry was cleared of wrongdoing in this incident.

Police: Fleeing DUI Suspect Leads Officers To Marijuana Operation

Authorities in Gwinnett County said a fleeing DUI suspect led police to a marijuana grow house.

Police said it began Saturday night when a DUI task force officer tried to stop a car. But Gwinnett County police spokesman Brian Kelly said the driver, 23-year-old Charles Byrd of Sugar Hill, jumped from the car and ran to a nearby home.

More police were called to the scene and after Byrd emerged from the home, police noticed the smell of marijuana. Kelly said they also found another man, 25-year-old Timothy Donahue of Sugar Hill, hiding in the house.

After getting a search warrant, police found and seized 69 marijuana plants, 1,490 grams of processed pot and marijuana-cultivating equipment. The value of the processed marijuana and Marijuana plants seized is in excess of $327,000, officials said.

Both men were arrested and are in the Gwinnett County Jail in lieu of bond, officials said.

Georgia Senate OKs Teen Cell Phone Ban While Driving

The Senate has approved a bill that would ban texting and talking on a cell phone while driving for teens. Under the bill approved 47-0, the driver's license of any teen who causes an accident while using a cell phone to talk or text would be suspended for 90 days or until the offender turns 18 for a first offense.

The offender would also be fined $150, which would be doubled if a traffic accident occurs.

The House on Tuesday adopted a separate measure aimed at banning text messaging while driving by a 131-19 vote. The chambers will have to hash out their differences.

Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Virginia and Washington are among the states that ban text messages for all drivers. Nine states ban text messaging for teen drivers.

Another UGA Player Arrested, Suspended

A UGA football player was arrested and charged with making a fake ID and underage possession of alcohol, Channel 2 Action News confirmed.

According to the Athens-Clark County Jail website, Joshua Parrish was booked into the jail Monday at 4:15 p.m. and later released on a cash bond at 5:35 p.m.

Parrish, an offensive lineman, has since been suspended indefinitely from the team. Coach Mark Richt has released several other players from the team this month following conduct-related issues.

UGA Quarterback May Transfer From Program

Quarterback Logan Gray has met with coaches at the University of Georgia and is considering transferring from the program.

"Gray's current status with the team has not changed, however, he is weighing options for the remainder of his playing career," said Associate Athletic Director Claude Felton.

Gray, a 6-foot-2 junior from Columbia, Mo., appeared in 11 games completing 5-of-12 pass attempts for 31 yards and rushing nine times for 35 yards in 2009.

In the annual G-Day game, Gray completed 10 of his 17 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Head Coach Mark Richt announced last week that red shirt freshman Aaron Murray won the starting quarterback role.

WSB-TV, Georgia Radio Network; Atlanta Journal-Constitution; WAGA-TV.

Police: Robbery Near Georgia Tech Campus

Police are investigating another crime near Georgia Tech's campus. It's the fourth robbery near the campus in one week.

A woman told police a man robbed her at the Tavoli Tenside apartments on Northside Drive Sunday morning. She said the robber ambushed her from behind and grabbed her while she was walking from a parking garage. The robber took her valuables and ran off, police said.

Police said the victim was not injured. The incident remains under investigation.

UGA Police End Probe Into Alleged Music Download Scheme

University of Georgia police have ended their investigation into a former employee's alleged scheme to extort students.

Police arrested Internet security analyst Dorin Dehelean in February after he was accused of shaking down a student who used school computers to illegally download music.

UGA police Chief Jimmy Williamson told the Athens Banner-Herald in a Sunday story a woman reported that Dehelean asked her for $800 to make her computer policy violation "go away."

Williamson said police felt there were other victims and assured students they wouldn't face criminal charges or administrative sanctions if they had a similar story to tell police.

But no one else came forward. A Clarke County grand jury will now consider whether to indict Dehelean on a single count of theft by extortion, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Police: Wrong-Way Driver May Have Caused Fatal I-85 Crash

A fatal accident temporarily shut down southbound Interstate 85 between Chamblee Tucker and Shallowford roads Sunday morning.

Police said at about 5 a.m., a green BMW entered the interstate at Shallowford Road, heading north in the southbound lanes. Less than a quarter-mile later, the BMW collided with a gold Lexus driven by Steven Naraine, 26, of Atlanta.

Police said Naraine's car was then hit by two more vehicles before coming to rest in the right lane. Naraine was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police said the BMW driver was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in serious condition. The drivers of the other two cars were evaluated at local hospitals and released.

The driver of the BMW is suspected of being under the influence and charges are pending, police said.

Police: Man Killed Near Nightclub, Shooter Claims Self-Defense

Atlanta police said after an initial investigation, a man may have killed another man in self-defense.

It happened at 1790 Cheshire Bridge Road NE just after 3 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the Dirty Laundry Boutique business near Club Life Nightclub.

Police said they were investigating the possibility that the dead man tried to rob the man who shot him. Police said the deceased man was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Wheelchair-Bound Man Killed In Fire

A Sunday morning lightning strike may have triggered a deadly house fire in Hall County, officials said. The body of a 62 year-old wheelchair-bound man was found inside the burned home located on Maiden Road in Lula.

The victim's wife said she heard a loud boom, and then smelled smoke around 3:30 a.m. The woman said she tried to remove her husband from the burning house, but was unable to do so and had to leave him inside, officials said.

Investigators said the home was a total loss.

3 Teens Accused In Gainesville Man's Death

A Hall County grand jury has indicted three Athens teens on charges they beat a man to death during a robbery in his home outside of Gainesville.

Authorities said 16-year-old Brian Martin Rivera, 17-year-old Nelson Vaca and 16-year-old Daniel Vilchis-Ayala are accused of killing Ramon Hernandez last month.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports that an 11-count indictment was returned against the suspects.

Charges include murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, attempted armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping with bodily injury, and false imprisonment.

Officials said Vilchis-Ayala and Vaca remain jailed without bond, and there's a nationwide lookout for Rivera.

WSB-TV; WXIA-TV; Athen Banner-Herald; Georgia Radio Network; Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Eve Carson

One of the men accused in the killing of a student body president at University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill campus pleaded guilty to federal crimes Monday, avoiding a death penalty case prosecutors were pursuing.

Demario Atwater, 23, pleaded guilty to several charges, including carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping. In response, prosecutors agreed to drop their plan to pursue the death penalty.

Eve Carson, 22, of Athens, Georgia, was found shot to death in the middle of a Chapel Hill street in March 2008. She had been shot five times, including once in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Authorities said Atwater and Laurence Lovette kidnapped Carson from outside her Chapel Hill home, stole her sport utility vehicle and took her to several ATMs, eventually withdrawing $1,400.

Atwater is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23, and he still faces charges in state court along with Lovette, who was only 17 at the time of the killing and is ineligible for the death penalty.

Carson's parents released the following statement: "While we deplore the evil and negligence that led to Eve's death, we agree with the U.S. Attorney's decision to accept the plea agreement. We are very grateful for the dedication and hard work that have gone into the investigation and prosecution of this crime."

"Eve Carson's murder was a senseless, random act of violence. Today's plea spares Ms. Carson's family and friends the uncertainty and pain of a drawn-out trial and endless appeals," said U. S. Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner. "We hope this resolution will help the Carson family put this horrendous act behind them, as best they can, and move on with their lives."

Police: Father Of Four Killed During Apparent Robbery

Atlanta police are looking for two suspects in connection with the killing of a man in northeast Atlanta, according to WSB-TV, Atlanta.

Police said 29-year-old Marcus Baker, a father of four, was shot around 12:40 a.m. Monday at the corner of Wabash Avenue Northeast and Boulevard Northeast in the city's Old Fourth Ward.

Police said it appeared to have started as a robbery. Baker was struck by a bullet at least once in the chest, police said. He was taken to Atlanta Medical Center where he later died from his wounds, police said.

The alleged suspects were last seen driving a gold car, police said. Baker's children were in an apartment across the street from the shooting scene, but were asleep and did not see anything, said Elliot.

Baker's family said they are struggling with how to tell his children about his death.

Police Arrest Knife-Wielding Man At Georgia College

Officials at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville have arrested a knife-wielding man who caused a residence hall lockdown Tuesday afternoon.

Spokeswoman Judy Bailey did not identify the man but said he was a student. Authorities got a report of a man carrying what was believed to be a knife at Parkhurst Residence Hall around 4:40 p.m.

She says the school placed the building on lock down while authorities searched room to room. They eventually found the man in a nearby student lounge. He tells authorities he threw the knife near a tennis court and Bailey said they're trying to find it.

About 300 men and women live in the hall. There were no early reports of injuries and Bailey said it's unclear who first spotted the man.

7-Year-Old Girl Injured In Shooting

A 7-year-old girl was shot while waiting in a car at an apartment complex in Southwest Atlanta, police said. The shooting happened at about 9 p.m. on Landrum Drive.

Police said a passenger in a second car started firing shots and one bullet struck the girl in the arm. Her injuries were not life-threatening, according to police. The incident remains under investigation.

Metro Atlanta Counties Kill Pets By Thousands

The number of cats and dogs put down at metro Atlanta animal shelters is rising amid sharp budget cuts.

The number of cats and dogs destroyed at animal shelters in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties has jumped 24 percent in the last two years. Those five core metro Atlanta counties killed almost 30,000 cats during that time.

Gwinnett County led the metro area with 7,588 dogs and cats put down in 2009. County officials say almost half of the animals were destroyed because the shelter could not house them.

Animal activists said adoption programs will never solve the problem. They advise animal owners to spay and neuter the animals to help control the population.

Two Men Accused In Roof Fraud

Two men are facing charges after authorities said they took money to repair a roof but instead, climbed atop a Canton woman's home and did nothing.

Authorities arrested 48-year-old Marvin Moore and 28-year-old Brent Roberts Monday. They're charged with theft by conversion of payment.

Moore was released Monday on a $7,000 bond, but Roberts is still in jail on a bond for the same amount.

Last month, a woman told police the men came to her house and took more than $500 to fix her leaking roof. But a neighbor told her she saw the men sitting on the roof instead of working, and later, rain continued to leak through the roof. Authorities said the men were already out on bond on similar charges in Pickens County.

Consumer Alert: 140K Pounds Of Meat Recalled

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting consumers to the recall of some meat products that may have a wheat ingredient not listed on the label.

Westlake Food Corp., Santa Ana, Calif., is recalling about 140,000 pounds of fully cooked assorted meat products because they contain wheat starch, which is an allergen for some people, not listed on the product label.

The products being recalled are:

• 14-ounce packages of Gio Lua Tay Ho pork meat loaf wrapped in banana leaves fully cooked.

• 13-ounce packages of Bo Vien tay ho beef meat ball fully cooked.

• 14-ounce packages of Doi Gio heo tay ho cured pork hock sausage with onion wrapped in pork skin fully cooked.

• 15-ounce packages of Cha Chiien tay ho fried pork pattie fried in vegetable oil fully cooked.

• 13-ounce packages of Bo Vien gan tay ho beef meat ball with beef tendon fully cooked.

All the items were produced between April 15, 2009 and April 14, 2010. Consumers with concerns about allergic reactions should contact their physician. Those with question should call Westlake Food at 714-973-2286.

WSB-TV, Georgia Radio Network; Georgia College and State University; Atlanta Journal Constitution; Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Dogwood Festival, Freaknik, Other Events Could Jam Traffic

The Atlanta Police Department said they will close several streets Saturday in downtown Atlanta due to the large amount of traffic expected. The following street will be closed from 7 p.m. until 4 a.m.

Peachtree Street between Marietta Street and M. L. King Jr. Drive.

Forsyth Street between Marietta Street and M. L. King Jr. Drive.

Pryor Street between Decatur Street and M. L. King Jr. Drive.

Wall Street between Central Avenue and Peachtree Street.

The Atlanta Police also report that there have been no reports of any significant occurrences related to the events going on this weekend in Atlanta.

Festivals, sporting events and the return of Freaknik have sparked fears of heavy traffic to several neighborhoods in Atlanta this weekend.

Tens of thousands of people are expected in town for the events and the mayor said the city is prepared for the unexpected.

The mayor, along with Interim Police Chief George Turner, Interim Fire Chief Joel Baker and MARTA CEO Beverly Scott, appeared together to announce traffic plans during a news conference earlier in the week.

Some of the events that could clog streets include the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park, Sweetwater 420 Festival in Candler Park, a robotics conference at the Georgia World Congress Center and home games for the Hawks and Braves.

Reed expects the turnout for any Freaknik events to be miniscule, and pale in comparison to the raucous street parties and gridlock the event caused in the mid-90s. The city has not issued permits to Freaknik organizers.

The Atlanta Police Department has canceled days off for officers this weekend, and officers will work 12-hour shifts to handle public safety issues. The department will use motorcycle, air and mounted patrol units to keep traffic moving.

Piedmont Park Lenox Square Greenbriar Mall Peachtree Road at Piedmont Road Atlanta University Center Underground Atlanta Washington, Maddox, Perkerson, & Candler Park

"In very simple terms, our preparation is to prevent Freaknik or Freaknik-related activities to interfere with other very important events in the city of Atlanta that have been well-planned and thought out. We owe that to the individuals who have planned their events appropriately and will not have them interfered with by unsanctioned events," said Reed.

Visitors to the city are encouraged to use MARTA. The mayor also announced the Georgia DOT is canceling plans to repave parts of the downtown connector this weekend.

2 Children, 1 Adult, Family Pet Killed In Fiery Crash

An adult, two children and their family pet have died in a fiery accident on Interstate 75 in Macon. The Bibb County Sheriff's Department said a pickup truck from Florida was pulling a U-Haul trailer when it struck a construction barrier and caught fire Saturday morning.

Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said the victims were burned beyond recognition. The accident happened near Sardis Church Road.

Car Slams Into Horse And Carriage; 4 Injured

Four people were seriously injured Friday night when authorities said a speeding vehicle slammed into a horse and carriage on Peachtree Street.

According to officials, two vehicles were speeding, north, on Peachtree Street and Harris Street. One of the vehicles did not stop and ran into a horse and carriage, occupied by four to five people.

Curtis Davenport, spokesman for Atlanta police, said the carriage basically disintegrated.

The carriage occupants were transported to a Grady Memorial Hospital. A spokeswoman at Grady Memorial Hospital said one is in critical condition and three are in fair condition.

The horse was captured as it ran from the scene.

One of the drivers, Odom Gerald, 29, was arrested by Atlanta police.

Atlanta police are investigating the wreck, which happened near Andrew Young International Boulevard.

The slow-moving carriages are typical along the downtown corridor.

Gwinnett Officer Shoots, Kills Suspect Wielding Knife

A Gwinnett County police officer was involved in a fatal shooting on Saturday morning, according to Gwinnett County Cpl. David Schiralli. The shooting took place on Sugarloaf Parkway at 6:30 a.m.

According to Schiralli, the officer responded to a man with a knife attacking cars at an apartment complex parking lot. The officer opened fire on the suspect when he lunged at the officer, Schiralli said.

The suspect, a resident of the apartment complex, was taken to an area hospital, where he later died. The officer, a veteran, was on paid leave while the investigation continues.

Police: Deputy Caught With Cocaine, Marijuana

The Atlanta Police Department arrested a Fulton County sheriff's deputy on drug charges, Fulton County Sheriff Official Tracy Flanagan said.

Officials said Deputy Jacqueline Dunn was charged Friday night with possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine. Dunn faces indefinite suspension and an internal affairs investigation is in progress, according to officials.

Authorities Make $2 Million Marijuana Bust

Authorities have arrested two people after a bust of an indoor marijuana growing operation that yielded more than 850 plants.

Authorities charged 44-year-old Nathaniel Bryant Jr., with trafficking marijuana over 100 pounds, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of tools during the commission of a crime. They charged 45-year-old Chandra Lee Gaskin with possession of marijuana.

Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team agents seized the plants after searching buildings in the 400 block of South Baldwin Circle and the 200 block of Dyches Drive. Both were being used as grow houses.

The plants had a total weight of approximately 1,900 pounds and an estimated street value of $2 million. Agents also seized four guns, including a sawed-off shotgun, and a military style ballistics vest.

WSB, Atlanta; WAGA-TV, Atlanta; WGXA, Macon; Georgia Radio Network.

English-Only Driver's Test Bill Stirs Up Debate

A bill is before the Georgia Legislature that would require that driver's license exams be given only in English. Supporters said the measure would improve public safety, but opponents said it openly discriminates against legal immigrants.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Jack Murphy, is chairman of the Public Safety Committee. He said drivers need to have at least a basic knowledge of English so they can read roadside warnings and communicate with police in an emergency.

Immigrant rights and civil liberties groups said the law has so many exceptions that it wouldn't boost public safety and instead would have a chilling effect on potential foreign investment.

The proposed law would apply only to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. It would not affect illegal immigrants because they aren't eligible for a driver's license.

Police: Motorists Drag Officer; Manhunt Under Way

A manhunt is under way in DeKalb County as police search for two motorists who took off during a traffic stop, dragging an officer, police said. The incident began Sunday morning on I-20 near Columbia Drive.

Police told WSB-TV that after the officer got the motorists' identification, "the two subjects began to drive off and the officer tried to reach into the vehicle to shut the car off."

The suspects dragged the officer and a responding officer shot at the suspects while they were dragging him, police said. The suspects did not fire back at the officers.

Police said the injured officer appears to be OK. The suspects eventually ditched their stolen Honda Accord and ran. Several officers are searching for them.

Police: 4-Year-Old Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver

Cobb County police are questioning a person who may be connected to a hit and run incident that killed a 4-year old boy. Police said the crash happened as a mother, 29-year-old Raquel Nelson and several children stepped off a bus on Austell Road Saturday night.

The driver hit the family and kept going, police said. Nelson and a 5-year-old girl suffered minor injuries. Another child was not hurt, police said.

"Where is his heart," said eyewitness Mae Thomas. "What kind of person would hit a whole family and drive away?"

Motorcyclist Runs Of Gas, Killed In Hit-And-Run

A motorcyclist who ran out of gas was killed by a hit-and-run driver late Saturday night on Interstate 20, Fulton County police said.

Police said James Springer stopped in the merge area between I-20 westbound and the I-285 on-ramp and was waiting for help when he was hit and killed by a car driven by Dexter Cathey.

Police said Cathey left the scene, but an off-duty officer tracked him down after a brief chase. Cathey was placed in the Fulton County jail and was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run.

Police said the accident shut down I-20 westbound between I-285 and Fulton Industrial Boulevard for 40 minutes.

Search For Missing Disabled Man Under Way

A Clayton County family is desperate to find a missing man. Police said relatives last saw 19-year-old Logan Corse on April 1. His family said he is schizophrenic, bi-polar and clinically blind.

He likes to call himself "Muzamil" and usually wears Muslim clothing. He is fluent in Spanish and English and speaks some Arabic. Family members said they believe Corse may be heading to Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

4-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots Twin Sister

Police are investigating a shooting involving a 4-year-old twin boy in Spalding County. According to the Spalding County Sheriff's Office, the boy got a hold of a gun and accidentally shot his twin sister.

"Took the firearm into another room, a shot was fired, striking the four-year-old twin sister," said Spalding County Sheriff's Office Capt. Tony Ranieri.

Investigators said the parents were in another room during the incident. The girl was shot in the leg, and is expected to recover, according to investigators. The victim was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston in unknown condition.

The parents could face criminal charges.

Ranieri said, "It could fall under reckless conduct in Georgia state law, it could lead to other charges, it depends on the condition of the child also that's why we strongly urge if you have children that live in your home, lock your guns up."

Deputy Sheriff Indicted On Corruption Charges

A Fulton County deputy sheriff has been indicted on federal corruption, drug and firearm charges, and officials said he took cash payments to provide protection for drug deals.

The deputy, 32-year-old Anthony C. Atwater, was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Friday afternoon.

U. S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said that between January and March of this year, Atwater used his position as a deputy to provide armed protection for alleged drug dealers in exchange for $4,000.

The indictment said that on two occasions, Atwater tried to aid and abet drug deals involving cocaine and in each instance, he knowingly possessed a firearm.

Georgia Man Gets 17 Consecutive Life Sentences

A man convicted of raping a young girl repeatedly over several years was given 17 consecutive life prison sentences.

An Oconee County Superior Court judge on Thursday sentenced Howard Elder Bagwell Sr. after he was found guilty on 22 felony counts during a trial last week. The charges include rape, aggravated child molestation and aggravated sexual battery.

Investigators said Bagwell subjected the girl to systematic abuse from 2003 to 2007. The girl, now 12, testified against him during the four-day trial in Watkinsville.

Officials: Attorney Tried To Bring Gun Into Courthouse

The Cobb County Sheriff's Office confirmed yesterday that a Stockbridge attorney was arrested Friday and accused of attempting to bring a weapon into the Cobb County Courthouse.

According to officials, Tessie Deleana Edwards was coming to the courthouse to represent a client in a case. The arrest warrant indicated Edwards was attempting to bring a Taurus Model PT 945 pistol into the courthouse around 10:15 Friday morning. The gun was found in a black briefcase canvas bag according to investigators.

Edwards faces one misdemeanor count of Possession of a Weapon in a Public Gathering. Edwards was taken to the Cobb County Detention Center. She's expected to bond out of jail early Friday evening.

WSB-TV, Atlanta; Georgia Radio Network.

GBI: Possible Homemade Bomb Found, Blown Up

A package found today could have contained an improvised explosive device, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. The GBI Bomb Squad responded to a call at about 2:00 p.m. at a home on Byrans Way in Henry County.

The package was found in the kitchen when Henry County Deputies were serving eviction papers to William Kent King. King was not home at the time.

"It was approximately 8 inches long, it had been taped together with masking tape and had several seperated cylinders inside the masking tape," GBI Special Agent Bomb Tech Rusty Andrews said.

A robot was used to go into the house, bring out the device and destroy it. King's belongings were taken out onto the lawn as bomb sniffing dogs searched to make sure the area was safe. Neighbors said King had lived there for years and was a good person.

"He was just a sharp intelligent guy who had it together. I really feel bad. If you ask me how I feel, that's how I feel. I feel bad," said neighbor Howard Cochran.

Deputies confirmed that King has been taken to the Henry County Sheriff's Office for questioning. The remnants of the package will be sent to labs to determine the nature of the device.

Extremists Warn Gov. Perdue To Step Down

Gov. Sonny Perdue was one of more than 30 governors to receive a letter from an extremist group warning him to leave office.

Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said Perdue's office received the letter earlier this week. They immediately turned it over to federal law enforcement officials, who had warned them such a letter might be coming.

As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received letters telling them that if they didn't leave office within three days they would be removed, according to an internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

Investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, but fear the broad call for removing top state officials could lead others to act out violently.

Husband, Wife Killed In House Fire

An early morning fire in Habersham County claimed the life of two people, fire officials said.

The blaze, which occurred at about 5 a.m., destroyed a home located at 500 block of Chitwood Road in Clarkesville. The bodies of the victims, Perry Taylor, 59 and his wife Mary Elizabeth Taylor, 52 will be sent to the state crime lab for positive identification.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine said the home did not have a smoke detector.

Teen Sentenced In Shooting Of Lost Motorist

A Marietta teenager has been sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of shooting to death a lost motorist who had stopped to ask him directions.

Avery Bryant, 19, was found guilty by a Fulton County jury Thursday on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault for the July 2008 unprovoked shooting death of a stranger in East Point.

Prosecutors said 47-year-old Newton Gordon was asking a few teens for directions when Bryant approached with a gun and fired six shots into the car, striking Gordon twice in the chest. His vehicle then slammed into a telephone pole and erupted into flames.

Prosecutors said Bryant told his friends, "I got my first body" after the shooting.

Long-Running Ga. Easter Egg Hunt Cancelled

Mack Garrison Jr. had hoped somebody or some group would pick up his family's 50-year tradition of putting on a community Easter egg hunt in Homer, once billed as the "world's largest."

But that hasn't happened.

So, for the first time in more than a half-century, children in their Easter best won't be lugging baskets across the green, open fields of the Garrison home off Ga. 51.

"I would love to see somebody pick it up, and I was hoping someone would step up to the plate," Garrison said Thursday.

The Garrison family's annual hunt drew thousands of people from throughout the area, growing to such a size as to earn a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.

For many families, the event had become a multigenerational tradition.

Nothing stopped the event from happening -- not bad weather or Harrison's health issues in recent years.

But with the economy's collapse, Garrison cited finances -- including spending $10,000 alone for the eggs -- as to why the family had to bow out as the event's sole organizers.

He did leave open, however, allowing his property to be used for an egg hunt, if others were willing to run the rest of the show.

"It's kind of sad," Garrison said of the lack of response, "but I'm going to leave that (offer) open. I would love to participate in it again next year pick this back thing up and keep the ball rolling."

The first hunt grew out of the desire of O.S. Garrison, Mack's grandfather, to give back to his employees and fellow church members. He held an egg hunt in the front yard of the home of his son, Herbert, Mack's uncle.

"The second year, he opened the door and told all the churches in the community to come up and have a good time with us," Garrison said in an interview last year. "The next year, he opened it to the school system. And after the school system, it went on the radio and went public."

Karen Wenner of Charleston, S.C., had planned to attend this year's event, hearing about it from her brother Mark, who lives in Augusta.

"I looked it up and was hoping to go with him this year," she said.

"Mark thought I would get a kick out of since it was close to his and my home, and to know I just missed it is disappointing. The look of kids being kids is renewing and refreshing."

Garrison said he expects the event's widespread popularity will trump news of the event's cancellation and folks will show up Sunday in cars expecting a hunt to take place.

"It was just so large and running so long," he said. "... We have had as many as 100 people on any given Saturday prior to (past hunts) thinking it was going to be put on (that day)."

For those showing up Sunday, Garrison plans on having someone out front prepared to "answer any questions or any concerns anyone might have ... and maybe help promote it (for future years)."

WSB; Georgia Radio Network; WGUN; WSSA.