An Athens woman is behind bars Thursday, charged in connection with the death of a 24-year pregnant woman and her Unborn child. According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department 27-year old Kiresa Cooper was arrested Wednesday night. She’s charged with one count of Felony Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault in the shooting death of Auriel Callaway.
Police say on July 22 around 9:45 pm, a fight broke out between two groups at the Clarke Gardens Apartments. Chief Cleveland Spruill held a media conference this afternoon about the case.
He says ACCPD investigators do not believe she was intentionally targeted.
“On July 22, at approximately 9:45 pm, Miss Callaway was standing outside the 100 building in the Clarke Gardens Apartments complex with her young, when a when a fight between neighborhood youth,” Spruill said. “The fight escalated into gunfire and Miss Callaway, who was an innocent bystander, was stuck by a bullet while attempting to move her young child to safety.”
Officers performed life-saving measure on Callaway until EMS arrived and transported her to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police say the investigation was helped by community members who came forward with details about the incident.
“We believe that other people may have filmed part of the fight and/or the shooting incident.”
The ACCPD continues to ask anyone with any information about the shooting, especially any video from the scene, to contact Detective Scott Balks at 706-613-3310, extension798 or Detective Paul Johnson at 706-613-3330, Extension 522.
