Canton Double Homicide Tied To Gang Activity: Indictment

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

CANTON, GA — Nearly 10 months after a high-profile shooting left two men dead and a community searching for answers, 13 defendants have been indicted in connection to these series of events that propelled the neighborhood and the city of Canton into action.

A Cherokee County grand jury this week returned indictments against Brody Sampes, Byron Elrod, Darron Brown, Jeremy Zellous, (removed), Brooke Wotring, Brian Miller, Bryson Miller, Jamesly Baptiste, Temarlos Turner, Akilee Wilson, Christian Johnson and Javon Reed.

Two separate indictments were issued by the grand jury, and the charges include violations of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, felony murder, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, false statements, tampering with evidence and firearms offenses, the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.

Eleven of the 13 defendants were indicted for their alleged affiliation with the Bloods, the infamous street gang based in California. All defendants are accused of being involved in three events occurring within a month, the first of which rocked the community with a fatal double shooting.

These series of events began when two opposing groups got into a physical altercation in the middle of Crisler Street near Burge Park on June 24, 2017. The following evening, Canton police officers and Cherokee sheriff's deputies responded to a shots fired call in the same area of the brawl. One shooting victim, William Kendrick Randall, was found dead at the scene while the other, Tony Lamar Samples, was found deceased inside a vehicle on North Street. That vehicle, the District Attorney's Office added, belonged to Zellous.

Roughly two weeks later, officers responded to another call of shots fired towards the Iglesia Pentecostes El Faro church at 385 Crisler Street and a home where witnesses to the double shooting lived. The Canton Police Department initially announced the arrest of five individuals connected to the shooting, but the indictment points to a larger network of organized crime that resulted in local officials getting the help of the FBI Northwest Georgia Criminal Enterprise Task Force.

"Gang-related criminal conduct will not be tolerated in our community and with the help of local law enforcement and the FBI, we will pursue this matter to the fullest extent of the law."

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The charges laid out in the indictment for each defendants include:

• Darron Anthony Brown (AKA, Little Wacky): two counts of tampering with evidence.
• (removed): three counts of street gang terrorism and one count each of of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and tampering with evidence.
• Byron Scott Elrod (AKA, Yellow Boy): four counts of felony murder; three counts of aggravated assault; 58 counts of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony;one count each of criminal damage to property in the first and second degree; one count of tampering with evidence; five counts of aggravated assault; one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; two counts of criminal damage to property in the first degree; one county of theft by receiving stolen property; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and recidivist
• Brian D. Miller (AKA, Sam): 17 counts of street gang terrorism, five counts of aggravated assault; and one count each of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, theft by receiving stolen property, criminal damage to property in the first degree possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• Bryson LeShawn Miller: five counts of street gang terrorism.
• Brody Austin Samples: 21 counts of street gang terrorism; two counts of felony murder; four counts of aggravated assault; three counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and one count of each of criminal damage to property in the first and second degree.
• Brooke Wotring: one count of tampering with evidence.
• Jeremy Ulysses Zellous (AKA, Buck): four counts of felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault, 37 counts of street gang terrorism, three counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, one count each of criminal damage to property in the first and second degree; two counts of tampering with evidence; three counts of making a false statement; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• Jamesly Baptiste: 15 counts of street gang terrorism; one count of affray; two counts of felony murder; two counts of aggravated assault; one count each of criminal damage to property in the first and second degree; and two counts of possession of firearm during commission of a felony.
• Christian Johnson: 18 counts of street gang terrorism; one count of affray; two counts of felony murder; three counts of aggravated assault; one count each of criminal damage to property in the first and second degree and three counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
• Javon Reid: one count each of street gang terrorism and affray.
• Temarlos Turner: 17 counts of street gang terrorism; one count of affray; two counts of felony murder; three counts of aggravated assault; one count each of criminal damage to property in the first and second degree; and three counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
• Akilee Wilson: two counts of felony murder; three counts of aggravated assault; 18 counts of street gang terrorism; one count each of criminal damage to property in the first and second degree; and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The indictment accuses Zellous of tampering with evidence by concealing a .40-caliber firearm magazine and making false statements to police when he denied knowing Tony Samples, Byron Elrod and Brody Samples. Elrod, Brown,(removed) and Wotring are also accused of concealing a Chevrolet Trailblazer police believe was tied to the incidents.

Canton Police Chief Mark Mitchell said he was "extremely grateful" for the work the detectives, the District Attorney's Office and the FBI put into the investigation.

"The professional teamwork of all involved was key to the grand jury indictments for all of the actors involved in these horrific crimes," he said.

Following the shooting, the city of Canton announced a series of community improvements and police beefed up patrols to beautify the area and provide a sense of security and ownership for residents who live in the Crisler Street area. Specifically, the city revamped Burge Park by resurfacing the basketball court and adding new playground equipment.

The defendants will be arraigned in the coming weeks before Cherokee County Superior Court Judge David Cannon Jr.

See also:

• Canton Police Identify Double Homicide Victims
• Two Charged With Murder In Canton Double Homicide
• Arrests Made In Canton Double Homicide Investigation
• 3 Charged In Shooting Near Site Of Canton Double Homicide
• Canton Double Homicide 'Not A Random Shooting:' Police
• Canton Double Murder Suspect Captured In New York
• Police Work Leads In Canton Double Homicide
• Canton Double Homicide: Police, City Leaders Work To Ensure Safety
• Neighborhood Rocked By Murders Sees Hope In New Park

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