VPD arrests armed 16-year-old for serious bodily harm

VALDOSTA – A 16-year-old was arrested by Valdosta Police after receiving numerous reports of shots fired in the East Rogers Street area.

Share:

ARRESTED: African-American youth, 16 years old, resident of Valdosta

On August 13, 2024, around noon, Valdosta Police and Detectives responded to the 400 block of East Rogers Street after numerous citizens called 911 to report gunshots. When officers arrived in the area, a 22-year-old man reported that two unknown men approached him as he was walking to his car, which was parked at a residence. He stated that one of the men pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots in his direction.

Through witness testimony and evidence collected at the scene, detectives identified a 16-year-old male juvenile as the person who fired the firearm. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for the juvenile for aggravated assault (felony), possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime (felony), and possession of a weapon by a minor (misdemeanor).

On August 27, 2024, detectives found the youth hiding in a relative's apartment. He was arrested without incident on the basis of his arrest warrants. The youth was held in a regional youth detention center.

“On a weekday around lunchtime, this youth recklessly fired a weapon. There were many citizens in the area and we are grateful that no one was injured. We are grateful for the numerous tips we received that helped our investigators find this perpetrator.”

If anyone has additional information about this or other cases, please contact the Valdosta Police Department's Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the Crime Tip Line at 229-293-3091, or submit a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.