GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County teenage murder suspect turned herself into authorities as investigators look into potential gang ties to the weekend crime.
Damia Mitchell is accused of gunning down a 20-year-old woman she had been in a relationship with. Investigators say some of those involved, including Mitchell, have apparent gang ties.
Mitchell’s aunt called Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Tony Thomas to say Mitchell is innocent and “hanging with people older than you, they can make you seem like the bad guy.”
Mitchell turned herself into police Tuesday night, alongside her attorney.
Gwinnett County Police tell Thomas they are making investigating and confronting gang issues a priority in 2021. Official stats show the number of gang-related incidents dropped last year, but authorities believe that’s partly pandemic-related.
Gwinnett Police Department figures show 176 gang incidents in the county in 2018. That number jumped to 403 in 2019 but was back down to 301 in 2020. Investigators say that doesn’t tell the whole story.
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“Covid affected alot of things when it comes to crime and the reporting of crime.” Cpl. Collin Flynn told Thomas. “Obviously with less calls we responded to thousands of less calls, and wrote less police reports.”
The stats jumped in 2019 right after Gwinnett police made it a priority to train officers on how to spot gang activity and ties in day-to-day crimes.
“Mainly because we believe our officers were able to identify it that much better. " Cpl. Flynn said. “Both drugs and gang activity are at the center of many of our violent crimes. That’s why we have made it a priority in 2021 to go after some of these types of crimes.”
By no means is this just a Gwinnett problem. In a statewide survey, the State Gang Investigators Association found more than 71,000 people with gang ties in all but 2 of Georgia’s 159 counties.
Orrin Hudson was a former gang member who dedicated his life to helping teens. He formed BeSomeone.Org.
He says for him, it was a teacher who stepped in and turned things around. He hopes gang members of today will have the same shot.
“Six magic words: take time to think things through,” Hudson said.
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