Cookout, Community Walk Of Healing Set For Sept. 9

CANTON, GA -- The Canton Police Department continues to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to carrying out its mission of establishing strong bonds with the communities its serves.

On Saturday, Sept. 9, the agency will join forces with a slew of groups to host its Walk of Healing & Unity from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Canton police will team up with representatives from Canton Housing Authority, Open Door Church, Iglesia Pentecostes el Faro, Zion Baptist Church, St. Paul AME, Mt. Calvary Church and City of Covenant Church for Saturday's festivities.

The event will take place in the parking lot of Zion Baptist and St. Paul AME churches at 400 Crisler Street in Canton.

Officers and members of the churches will be grilling hot dogs and providing chips and drinks for those in attendance. This laid back setting, Canton police add, will provide a chance to engage in open dialogue and conversations with officers and citizens to "learn more about each other, build trusting relationships and a time to discuss any needs in the community (and) police department."

The primary objective of Saturday's event, the department said, is to show the public that Canton is united to improve the quality of life for everyone and the city, its residents and stakeholders will not tolerate violence and crime in its communities (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

“Over the past several years, our community outreach programs have strengthened the vital trust and relationships needed between our department and those we serve every day," Canton Police Chief Mark Mitchell said. "However, we have more work to do. Working together as one united community, our commitment and resolve will pay very important dividends now and in the future. This unified partnership will allow us to continue to effectively communicate, maintain transparency, address criminal activity and public concerns. We are excited about this event and look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Saturday's event is one of the initiatives Mitchell and other city leaders said they wanted to pursue following the June 25 double shooting that left two men dead just outside the historic downtown district. The shooting along Crisler Street near Jefferson Circle resulted in the deaths of William Kendrick Randall, 23, of Canton and 26-year-old Tony Samples of Ball Ground.

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A total of four people have been arrested in connection to the case: Jeremy Ulysses Zellous, 29, who is charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, making false statements and tampering with evidence; Temarlos Marquarous Turner, 22, and 23-year-old Brody Austin Samples, who are each facing two counts each of felony murder and aggravated assault; and 35-year-old Joseph C. Goldback Jr. of Jasper, who is charged with obstruction of an officer.

One suspect, 17-year-old Akilee Zakee Wilson, remains at large and Canton detectives are utilizing the help of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force to locate him.

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