Three Men Arrested for Aggravated Assault, Possession of Firearms, Gang Activity

Sunday night, Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of Hwy 301 N near Old River Rd for a call of shots fired between vehicles. Two vehicles were discovered to have sustained gunshot damage. The vehicles had a total of six occupants, including three minor children. No one was injured in the shooting.

The suspect vehicle, a white Dodge Dart, continued toward Statesboro on 301 N and turned onto the bypass. Master Deputy Jeff Thompson spotted the vehicle and pursued it onto East Main Street, observing it to be occupied by several suspects.  At Packinghouse Rd, one male subject jumped out of the vehicle and abandoned a handgun which was recovered by Thompson.  Responding deputies and Statesboro Police Dept officers lost contact with the male subject and the Dart as it fled the area.

Investigator Quattlebaum and members of the Statesboro-Bulloch Crime Suppression Team, assisted by deputies and SPD officers, worked the case throughout the night. They were able to identify the three suspects as 25 year-old Deonte Coker, 31 year-old Jerimaih Bates , and 24 year-old Anthony Bates. Deonte Coker was wanted by SPD on unrelated charges, and Anthony Bates had been arrested and extradited to Fulton County by CST in December. All three were arrested that evening and transported to the Bulloch County Jail. They are being held without bond, pending further judicial hearings.

According to BCSO, the motivation for the shooting appears to be personal, however there are indications that gang activity also played a part in the crime.

Charges are as follows:

• Deonte Coker: 6 cts Aggravated Assault, 1 ct Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, 1 ct Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, 1 ct Criminal Street Gang Activity, 1 ct Discharge of a Firearm on a Public Highway, 1 ct Obstruction, 1 ct Criminal Trespass (SPD warrant)
• Jerimaih Bates: 6 cts Aggravated Assault, 1 ct Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, 1 ct Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, 1 ct Criminal Street Gang Activity, 1 ct Discharge of a Firearm on a Public Highway, 1 ct Obstruction
• Anthony Bates: 6 cts Aggravated Assault, 1 ct Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, 1 ct Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, 1 ct Criminal Street Gang Activity, 1 ct Discharge of a Firearm on a Public Highway, 1 ct Obstruction, 1 ct Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, 1 ct Reckless Driving

The successful conclusion of this case is yet another example of the strong cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Bulloch County.

Anyone with information on this case should contact Inv Quattlebaum at 912-764-1785.