A New Year's Day stop at a Circle K in Covington turned chaotic when two groups started shooting at each other in the parking lot, sending people scrambling and bullets into a nearby fuel truck, authorities say. Despite the gunfire, deputies reported no injuries. The confrontation began with a dispute inside the Salem Road store before it spilled outside and escalated into an exchange of shots.
Deputies say the incident happened on Jan. 1, and investigators later found damage to a nearby fuel truck as they processed the scene, according to WSB Radio. Officials said the people involved range in age from 17 to 21, and investigators have been working off witness statements and store video to reconstruct what happened.
Arrests and charges
Newton County deputies have arrested four people in connection with the shooting: 21-year-old Cameron Little, 17-year-old Cameron Hill, 19-year-old Earon Little and 18-year-old Corde Marks. The sheriff's office says the suspects face a mix of charges including unauthorized discharge of a firearm within 50 yards of a public highway, reckless conduct and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Marks was booked on two counts of aggravated assault, per WSB Radio. Two arrests were made Jan. 7 and another on Feb. 13, according to the sheriff's office.
Salem Road has seen similar incidents
The Salem Road corridor has not exactly been quiet in recent months. In October, a large after-party melee at the Salem Square shopping center drew a multi-agency law enforcement response, according to The Covington News. That earlier episode also had deputies corralling crowds and combing the parking lot for shell casings and other evidence, fueling ongoing concerns about big gatherings in the area.
Investigation continues
Sheriff Ezell Brown said he appreciated help from the Newton County School Systems police force as deputies worked through leads in the Circle K case, and officials have warned that more arrests could be coming. A fifth person, 18-year-old Bryce Blair, is wanted on charges including aggravated assault, reckless conduct and discharging a firearm near a public highway, according to WSBTV. Deputies have not released a motive and say the investigation is still active.
