Arrest made for Athens shopping center shootout that injured two girls

Rasheed Ammad Scott

By Joe Johnson

A paroled felon has been arrested for a shootout at an Athens shopping center in which two girls were injured.

Investigators believe the shootout Wednesday afternoon at Athens Plaza on North Avenue was likely drug related.

The injured girl, ages 5 and 14, were attending class at a dance studio, when a bullet from the nearby exchange of gunfire smashed through the front glass window.

Police said the entire incident was captured by a surveillance camera and that video footage shows four males arguing and then shooting at each other in the shopping center parking lot near the dance studio. After the shooting, one of the males is seen placing a black bag in the trunk of a car.

One of the males, identified as 38-year-old Rasheed Ammad Scott, was arrested in Gwinnett County on Thursday. He was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Booked into the local jail with an Atlanta address, Scott has an extensive criminal drug history in Athens. Trafficking cocaine is among the offenses for which he has been prosecuted in Clarke County Superior Court.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Scott is currently on parole related to convictions for drug and gun offenses in Gwinnett County.

An investigation of the Athens Plaza shootout was continuing, and a reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest.

Police asked for anyone who has information regarding the incident to contact Detective Paul Johnson at 762-400-7060 or paul.johnson@accgov.com.

Anonymous tips can be made by calling the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 706-705-4775