Suspect arrested in teen's shooting at Athens convenience store

Demonte Raquan Clarke

By Joe Johnson

A suspect has been arrested for the Tuesday afternoon shooting on an Athens teen outside of a convenience store in the northern part of the county, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Demonte Raquan Clarke, 24, of Rolling Ridge Apartments was arrested later in the day of the shooting and charged with aggravated assault, according to police.

As of Friday morning, Clarke was being detained at the county jail without bail being set, and the Arcade Police Department placed a hold on his release due to a felony probation violation in their jurisdiction.

According to police, Clarke and the victim, a Baxter Street resident, knew each other, and the shooting occurred during an altercation in the parking lot of Quick Pantry, at the corner of Newton Bridge Road and Kathwood Drive, and down the block from Rolling Ridge Apartments.

While responding to a report of gunshots being fired in the 400 block of Newton Bridge Road, police said, officers were advised that the victim had shown up at a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound.

“Clarke and the victim were involved in a confrontation in the parking lot which triggered the shooting. During the course of the confrontation, the suspect produced a firearm and fired several shots, striking the victim once. The circumstances that led to the altercation are still under investigation, said Lt. Shaun Barnett, ACCPD’s public information officer.

According to Barnett, Clarke on Tuesday evening "willingly" went to police headquarters, where he was subsequently arrested and taken to jail.