A somber narrative unfolds in Atlanta, as former Jonesboro police officer, Godreque Newsom Sr., stands charged with vehicular homicide after a fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of 27-year-old Abari Meade. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, Newsom, who has a checkered past with law enforcement agencies, is accused of fleeing the scene after colliding with Meade's vehicle on May 27.
The collision, which took place on the Downtown Connector, fatally injured Meade, seeking help after a minor accident. 11Alive shared that, according to the Atlanta Police Department, Newsom abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene despite recorded evidence of him traveling at a recklessly high speed before the crash, compounding the tragedy of the event; this moment marked a violent end to what was merely an unexpected delay on Meade's journey.
Insight into Newsom's professional history reveals a series of discordant exits from law enforcement roles, including being fired for "conduct unbecoming of an officer". He previously made allegations against Jonesboro's mayor, claiming unethical behavior; however, an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation did not find criminal wrongdoing. In contrast, the magnitude of the current charges brought against Newsom, denied him a bond for the first-degree vehicular homicide and felony hit and run charges, though the bond was set for the lesser charges of reckless driving and speeding, as 11Alive reports.
The fallout from this episode reverberates through the bereft family of the young man, whose life was truncated so suddenly and so early; "His family tells me he was a caring and compassionate person who always looked out for others and did not deserve what he got," as described in a tribute obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. According to the same source, Meade's funeral took place recently, after which his family demanded accountability and vowed to pursue justice for Meade.
The case continues to evolve, with Newsom represented by noted defense attorney Bruce Harvey.
