Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting Opens Memories Of Similar Incident

Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting Opens Memories Of Similar... (Added: December 15, 2008)

Ten years ago there was anger and outrage following the shooting of a man in south Augusta after a high speed chase. Deputies said Alfaigo Davis was using his car as a deadly weapon when they opened f (more)

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Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting Opens Memories Of Similar Incident

Ten years ago there was anger and outrage following the fatal shooting of a man in south Augusta after a high speed chase. Deputies said Alfaigo Davis was using his car as a deadly weapon when they opened fire. A civil rights groups says there is a connection between Davis and the shooting Sunday in Cherry Tree Crossing.

By: George Eskola | WJBF News Channel 6
Published: December 15, 2008

Augusta, GA -- A large crowd gathered at Cherry Tree Crossing, concerned about the condition of Justin Elmore, the man shot by Richmond County deputies Sunday night.

Some drawing comparisons to what happen ten years ago in Apple Valley.

“Just like Alfaigo Davis when they gunned him down they gunned him down in the same spot that's how they did Justin Elmore,” said Shakeela McNair, who is the Elmore’s girlfriend.

Alfaigo Davis was shot to death by deputies in his car in Apple Valley in February of 1998, he was unarmed but deputies fired on him after he tried to ram them with his car.

Deputies say Elmore was also using his vehicle as a weapon.

Ten years apart, but the Augusta chapter of the New Black Panther Party feels the two incidents are connected, and show a problem with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

“This is some kind of tactic being used by Richmond County that's causing some severe problems in our community we're talking about people being shot and killed people who are not being arrested and given a trial,” says Bobby Price, of the New Black Panther Party.

The two officers involved in the Davis shooting were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength dismisses the criticism that the two incidents, one in the 1990’s show any pattern of misconduct by his officers.

“We don't dictate shooting our weapons the bad guys dictate when we shoot our weapons I don't have anything to say to anybody who has that mentality,” says Strength.

Both shootings cause anger and outrange in some parts of the community but Price says his intentions are not to add fuel to an already tense situation.

He says he’s trying to open lines of communication.

“I don’t think there is enough dialogue between the black community and law enforcement I don't think law enforcement is reaching out to the black community in a positive way," says Price.