DeKalb County

DeKalb teacher accused of murdering 2 kids a member of Crips gang, documents say

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News is learning more about the DeKalb County teacher accused of killing an 11-year-old girl and her 15-year-old brother in 2016.

Channel 2's investigative reporter Mark Winne first told you about this story on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 on Tuesday.

Police say the two children lost their loves on Libby Lane in gang-related gunfire more than 17 months ago.

White is a fifth grade teacher at Toney Elementary School in DeKalb County.

"He wants to get people out of the urban lifestyle and make something of themselves 'cause that’s what he did," White's lawyer, Nicole Fegan, told Winne on Wednesday about White's love of teaching.


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Documents obtained by Winne contain allegations that White is a member of the Crips criminal street gang. 

The document says a known member of the Crips "advised that 'Mike', referring to Michael White, is one of the 'shooters' responsible for the shooting death of Daveon and Tatiyana Coates."

Fegan denied the allegations.

"He became a teacher because he wanted to help students. He loved kids," Fegan said. "He is not gang affiliated."

The Clayton County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Task Force arrested White on Friday at the school where he works.

"He feels for the family but he knows he’s innocent and didn’t have anything to do with this," Fegan said.

Winne spoke one-on-one with Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts on Wednesday about the arrest.

"(I'm) just filled with disappointment. Teachers, much like police, are public trusted servants and we are the foundation for the future of many youths," he said.

Roberts says a sketch of a man seen at the murder scene, done by Georgia Bureau of Investigation forensic artist Kelly Lawson, played a key role as Clayton County police investigators built a case against White.

On Wednesday, police identified a second suspect, Jamon M. Bynum. Bynum is now also charged in the gang-related murders.

Channel 2 Action News confronted him as he was taken away by authorities in handcuffs, but he did not say anything.

"His role is not yet completely defined but we can confirm he was present when the homicides took place," Roberts said. "We hope to bring some solace and resolve to that family."

District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson confirmed the clerk's office advised her an indictment has been returned charging several people with murder and related offenses in the murder of the two children.

Roberts says he will be holding a major news conference on Thursday with new information. 

White has been removed from Toney Elementary School until an investigation is complete, district officials said. He has taught fifth grade at the school since August, and began with the district as a paraprofessional in March 2017.

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