A teen and several others have been arrested and charged with gang related activity and other charges in connection to two shootings that happened this past fall.

Investigator Jeff Alexander with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office said Vernon King, 18, of Covington, was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 4 and charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, participation in criminal gang activity, pointing a firearm at another and discharge of firearms on the property of another.

Alexander said King was arrested in connection to an alleged incident that happened Sept. 27, when he and four other males pulled up to a home on Mote Road and confronted a 16-year-old, saying that they wanted to fight him.
“The victim said he didn’t want to fight. The victim’s mother came outside and she asked the (group) to leave and as they were leaving King allegedly fired a shot into the air,” Alexander said.

Alexander said there were also other arrests made in connection with the incident. He said Aquelle Crawlle, 18, of Covington, was arrested and charged with participation in criminal gang activity, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass in October. He added that the other males involved were juveniles.

In addition to being charged in the September incident, Alexander said King was also charged with an armed robbery that happened in November at the pool area of Gross Lake Parkway.

He said a 16-year-old juvenile was found lying on the ground stating that he was shot in the lower back and the left leg. The incident was more than like drug transaction that didn’t go according to plan, he said.

Four arrests were made in that incident, which included King; and Nickolis Devante Howard, 18, of Covington, who was charged with aggravated assault, possession of firearm during the commission of crime, making false statements to police and violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act on Dec. 3.

Lucky Huynh, 18, of Covington was arrested Jan. 4 and charged with armed robbery and making false statements to law enforcement; and Steven Dabney, 19, of Social Circle, was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 5 and charged with armed robbery and making false statements.