Suspect arrested in Sunday slaying of man in east Athens
An Athens man was charged Monday night in the gunshot slaying of a man in east Athens, but police were also trying Tuesday to identify a woman they believe may be a witness to the crime.
Floyd Junior Johnson, 62, was charged with murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the Sunday afternoon death of 52-year-old Gerald Dexter Jones, who was shot to death while sitting in his car along the 100 block of Fairview Street.
Police detectives are also trying to identify a woman, whom they believe was present when Jones was shot, according to police Lt. Shaun Barnett.
“We have information that there was a woman on scene that presumably witnessed it at the very least, so we’re trying to figure out who she is and what involvement she had while she was there,” Barnett said.
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Detectives are encouraging the woman to reach out to police, according to Barnett.
Police have not yet determined a motive for the shooting, Barnett said.
Residents in the area called police about 3:30 p.m. Sunday when they heard the gunshot, according to the report. An officer arrived to find Jones in the driver’s seat of his 2014 Dodge Challenger, where he died, according to police.
Johnson had left the scene, but Barnett said he was identified after detectives reviewed footage from numerous video surveillance cameras in the surrounding area.
Johnson left in a vehicle, which is now in possession of police, Barnett said.
A gun was also collected during the investigation, but Barnett said forensics tests will be done to determine if it was the firearm used in the slaying.
Neither man lived near the crime scene. Both men lived in subdivisions in north Athens as Johnson gave his address as on Noketchee Drive, while police said Jones lived on Fowler Drive.
Johnson, who is in the Athens-Clarke County Jail, will have to petition the Superior Court for a bond hearing.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens-Clarke police arrest suspect in eastside slaying of Athens man
