Suspect in murder of Athens child had been arrested for having ‘ghost gun’

A Polymer80 9mm pistol assembled from a kit

By Joe Johnson

The suspected gang member who is wanted for the shooting death of a child in Athens last week

was free on bond from an arrest last year for possessing a so-called ghost gun.

Ghost guns are assembled from kits that can be purchased online without background checks and are often used to comit crimes because they are untraceable due to not having serial numbers.

Dakious Rico Echols, 18, of Highland Park Drive in Athens, is charged in warrants for murder and other crimes in connection with the death of 3-year-old Kyron Zarco, an innocent victim from when his home was shot up last Friday by gang members who apparently had been targeting the a rival gang member who lived there.

When shot through the heart, Zarco was sitting on a couch watching television next to his 9-year-old brother, who was wounded by the barrage of gunfire.

Dakious Rico Echols

Echols is being hunted down by authorities who are also looking for an alleged gang associate, 16-year-old Jayden Brown. A third purported member of the gang, Julian Omar Cubillos, was arrested hours after the fatal shooting, on charges of murder, aggravated assault, and criminal gang activity.

Echols was arrested by Athens-Clarke County police for the ghost gun in May 2023

when he was the passenger in a car whose driver was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

According to reports, Echols ran from a traffic stop, and when caught police found him in possession a Polymer80 9mm pistol, a brand of ghost guns.

He was arrested on charges of possession of a pistol by a person 18 years old and obstruction of law enforcement.

Subsequent to his release from custody on bond, Echols was arrested in Sumter County for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Law enforcement continues searching for two of his alleged gang associates: Dakious Rico Echols,18, and Jayden Brown, 16.

Police have asked for anyone with information about the shooting to contact Detective Paul Johnson at 762-400-7060 or Paul.johnson@accgov.com

A reward of up to $2,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest , and tips can be anonymously provided over the Crime Stoppes confidential tip line at 706-705-4775,