Police Hunting East 19th Gunman; 3 Arrested So Far For Involvement
Rome police arrested three men in connection with the Wednesday murder of a Cedartown teen, and sources close to the investigation say one more suspect, the man believed to be the gunman, is still at large.
Bryan Edward Williams
Eric Hightower, 37, of Rome, has been charged with the murder of 19-year-old Jeffery Pledger of Cedartown. However, police have said they believe Williams is the shooter.
Police also took a Cedartown man, 28-year-old Chiresco Montgomery, into custody and charged him with conspiracy to commit an armed robbery. Trenton Williamson, an 18-year-old from Rome, was also arrested Thursday on the same charges.
Hightower and Montgomery were arrested overnight and Williamson was arrested later Thursday morning. Police think the four men involved arranged to rob Pledger and one of the men shot him.
From left: Trenton Williamson, Chiresco Montgomery and Eric Hightower.
At about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday a call came in to 911 that an individual had been shot at 506 E. 19th St. while he was in his car. The victim was rushed to the hospital where he died from his injuries according to Capt. Terry Autry of the Rome Police Department.
Sources tell RNW that several shots were fired but it is not clear how many actually struck Pledger.
At about 7 p.m., a police K9 unit was called to the scene to help aid investigators, but it was not clear what the dog was searching for. Investigators marked off the front and back yards as well as the street in front of 504 and 506 E. 16 St. while they photographed and collected evidence.
The car, a light blue or gray sedan that was towed by police, was in the backyard and marked with an evidence number following the shooting.
Shortly after the shooting, police issued a lookout for a black and white Ford Crown Vic after police received information that individuals in that vehicle may be coming to Rome to avenge the shooting.
A vehicle fitting that description was located around 9:45 p.m, on U.S. Highway 27 near Booger Hollow Road in southern Floyd County. Sources say the individuals in that vehicle are not suspects in the shooting and are possibly friends of the victim.
Police briefly detained the individuals but let them go after they were interviewed by investigators.
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Police say the shooting victim was in or near the car when he was shot.
Investigators photograph and collect evidence.
A K9 unit was called to the scene at about 7 p.m.
Neighbors gather behind an ambulance trying to catch a glimpse of the shooting victim on East 19th Street.
