During the evening hours of July 24th , ACCPD investigators took Kiresa Cooper into custody for the murder of Auriel Callaway. Cooper, a 27-year-old ACC resident, was arrested in Cobb County and transported to the Athens-Clarke County Jail where she was booked on one count Aggravated Assault and one count Felony Murder. Additional charges are expected for Cooper.

On July 22, 2019, at approximately 9:45 pm in the Clarke Gardens Apartments, a fight between two groups escalated into gunfire. Callaway, an innocent bystander, was attempting to move her child to safety when she was struck during the gunfire. ACCPD investigators do not believe Callaway was intentionally targeted.

When ACCPD officers arrived at a chaotic scene, they began performing life-saving procedures on Callaway. EMS arrived and transported Callaway to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased. Callaway’s unborn child also did not survive.

“This reckless act of violence took the life of a young mother in her prime as well as her unborn child,” said ACCPD Chief of Police Cleveland Spruill. “Such senseless violence shall not be tolerated and all our investigative resources and tools were brought to bear to locate and apprehend the suspect

ACCPD’s investigation was aided by the community which came forward with details about the incident. “We appreciate the assistance of the community and our law enforcement partners in the quick apprehension of Cooper,” said Spruill. The ACCPD continues to ask that anyone with information, especially video evidence related to the incident, to contact Detective Scott Black (706-613-3330, ext 798) or Detective Paul Johnson (706-613-3330, ext 522.)