LAW ENFORCEMENT
Debbie Lurie-Smith
debbie@jcnews.com
The report of shots fired near the Sawmill Quarters of the City of Gray resulted in the arrest and recent indictment of the alleged offender.
Michael Winston Burney, 21, was arrested July 14 and charged with two counts of aggravated assault. Burney was indicted on the charges by a Jones County Grand Jury Aug. 1.
A report of his arrest by Gray Police Officer Brent Zimmerman states he was dispatched to Peachtree Street in Gray in reference to shots fired. The officer made contact with the complainant, who told him a green Cadillac stopped in the roadway and people inside the car were talking to people walking on the street. The complainant said she heard two gunshots, and the car left towards East Clinton Street. Zimmerman said he checked the area and located two spent FC 9mm Luger shell casings in the roadway. The officer collected the casings and placed them into evidence.
Zimmerman and Lt. Thaxton Pennamon continued to interview neighborhood residents and located witnesses who were at the car when the shots were fired. Burney was identified as the shooter.
Witnesses told Zimmerman there was a verbal altercation before the shooting.
The officer said he secured a warrant for Burney’s arrest, and they attempted to locate him. Jones County deputies assisted in the search. Zimmerman said JCSO Corp. Kasey Carr contacted the suspect’s father.
Zimmerman said the father brought Burney to the police department that afternoon. He said during the interview, Burney admitted to firing shots in the air. The suspect also said
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he pointed the gun in the face of one of the people close to the car.
The officer said he asked Burney where the gun was, and he said it was in his book bag at his grandmother’s house. Zimmerman said he transported Burney to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center and served him with the warrants for aggravated assault.
The officer said he made contact with the grandmother and took possession of the book bag. He said the Taurus G3 9mm black handgun was located inside the book bag with one Federal 9 mm cartridge in the chamber. Zimmerman said there were also 16 Federal 9mm cartridges in the black 17-round magazine inside of the handgun. There were 17 Federal 9 mm cartridges in an extra magazine and 14 Federal cartridges inside a red Federal cartridge box.
The officer said all the cartridges were full metal jackets. He said the cartridges found inside the Taurus G3 9mm were identical to the two spent shell casings found at the scene. The gun and ammunition were turned into the evidence locker along with the spent shell casings.
Burney was released July 15 on a $20,000 bond.
