Two teenagers were arrested for the fatal shootings of 12-year-old Zyion Charles (L) and 15-year-old Cameron Jackson (R) at Atlantic Station in midtown Atlanta last month.
Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. confirmed the arrests on Wednesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
The shooting occurred after mall cops escorted a group of teenagers off the Atlantic Station property for “unruly behavior” and violating the retail district’s curfew.
The fugitive squad with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service tracked down a 16-year-old gang member who fled to New York City after the fatal shootings.
A 15-year-old juvenile was also charged with murder. Both suspects were students in the Atlanta public school system.
Police did not release the suspects’ names because they are juveniles. They face two counts of murder, aggravated assault and gang charges, Chief Hampton said.
Zyion Charles was accidentally shot by members of his own gang on the 17th Street Bridge near Atlantic Station. He died at the scene.
The bullets were meant for rival gang member Cameron Jackson, a.k.a Ola Cam, who was riding a scooter across the bridge when he was gunned down.
Jackson (pictured) was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later taken off life support and pronounced dead. He was related to reputed Chicago gang member Ola Runt. The family moved to Atlanta to get away from gang violence.
Zyion’s mother, Deerica Charles, called police a week before the shooting to arrest her son.
“I said, ‘I’m begging you. I’m begging you. Could you get my son in custody?’ He said, ‘I can take them down to the juvenile system all day… But they’re not going to keep them. He has to really hurt somebody for them to keep your son,'”
Zyion’s mother told the Atlanta City Council that she begged police to arrest her boy when he started hanging around with gang bangers and breaking into cars. She even called one officer’s personal cell phone.
“I tried, y’all,” she said through tears. “I called the police officer almost 30 times, 30 times in the last few years. They told me they can’t do nothing. I said he is out here breaking in folks’ cars. Can y’all please get him off the streets? Just take him down before somebody kills my son.”
Zyion’s family took down his Instagram page (@1__luhhot) that showed the 12-year-old wielding guns and flashing gang signs with other gang members.
“This investigation is not over. We do anticipate additional charges,” Chief Hampton said.
Watch the video below.
