







Police arrest crew suspected in six killings
Eight men robbed other criminals, authorities say
By ERIC STIRGUS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/04/07
Local and federal law enforcement officials announced Thursday the arrests of eight men they suspect killed six men and wounded two others since June.
"These crimes were committed by some of the worst of the worst," said Jeff Pearce, assistant special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice's bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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Investigators said the men were part of an exceptionally violent crew who prospered by robbing other drug dealers and criminals. Police said the suspects were particularly dangerous because they often fired at their targets with little concern for bystanders. Investigators said they found 10 assault rifles while arresting the suspects during the past two weeks.
Police Chief Richard Pennington said the suspects played a large part in the spike of slayings in Atlanta this summer.
"We believe we will now taper off some of the violence in our city," he told reporters.
Four of the suspects were charged in a June 10 slaying outside the now-closed Club 112 in Midtown. Investigators said they cracked the case after arresting one of the men on a weapons charge. Investigators said three of the suspects were former New Orleans residents who came to Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans police are investigating whether any of the men were responsible for crimes in that city, Pennington said.
Arrested were Carlos Drennan, 28; Maurice Hargrove, 24; Prentice McNeil, 23; Ashton Mitchell, 21; Edward Morris III, 28; Marco Moses, 22; George Kerry Redding, 20; and Moerise Williams, 26.
Police said they are still investigating whether the suspects might have been involved in other crimes.
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