Georgia Gang Prosecution Unit Wins New Murder Conviction in Athens Shooting
A gang shooting case has reached a verdict in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced on November 6 that his Gang Prosecution Unit has secured the conviction of Keanthony Sorrells, 17, in connection with the May 27, 2024, fatal shooting of 20-year-old Cameron Manago at Rolling Ridge Apartments in Athens. Sorrells was found guilty by an Athens-Clarke County jury following a nine-day trial. Sentencing will take place at a later date.
Sorrells is the second and final defendant to be convicted in this case. His co-defendant, Zyquavious Thomas, 18, previously pleaded guilty on September 16, 2026. Both Sorrells and Thomas are associates of Sex Money Murder, a national set of Bloods that has a strong presence throughout the state.
"This conviction is just the latest in our ongoing efforts to combat violent gang activity in every corner of this state, and it's working," said Attorney General Chris Carr. "When we created our Gang Prosecution Unit four years ago, we promised to go after those who are putting lives at risk, and we started in Athens. Alongside our local, state and federal partners, we have stopped a deadly gang war and secured justice for victims and their families. All Georgians deserve to be safe, and we're fighting to ensure that's a reality."
Created in July 2022, Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit has since partnered with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to obtain more than 20 convictions in Athens alone, with several other defendants still facing charges. The majority of these cases involve a conflict between two rival gangs known as Everybody Eats (EBE) and Red Tape Gang (RTG). This conflict dates back to 2021 and has resulted in several shootings, both fatal and non-fatal, throughout the area, including the shooting deaths of three-year-old Kryon Santino Zarco Smith, 19-year-old Brynarius Smith, 24-year-old Ja'Vanni McDavid, and 19-year-old Alijah Nelson, all cases successfully prosecuted by Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit.
Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters said the conviction reflects the importance of strong law enforcement partnerships and the collective commitment to holding individuals accountable for acts of violence. GBI Director Chris Hosey and Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, also voiced support for continued joint efforts against violent gangs.
On November 5, 2026, Sorrells was convicted of one count of felony murder, one count of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, four counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count of possession of a handgun by a person under the age of 18. Senior Assistant Attorney General Ryan Piechocinski and Assistant Attorney General McKenzie Gray prosecuted the case. It was investigated by ACCPD, with assistance from the GBI, the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force, and gang investigators with the Attorney General's Gang Prosecution Unit.
Since it began its work on July 1, 2022, the Gang Prosecution Unit has investigated and prosecuted cases in more than 20 Georgia counties, with more than 150 convictions secured across the state. The unit is based in Atlanta, with regional satellite prosecutors and investigators in Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Southeast Georgia.
(Source: Georgia Office of the Attorney General)
Source: Georgia Office of the Attorney General
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：佐治亚州雅典的克拉克县法院。CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
