3 suspects who died in crash are believed to be involved in fatal shooting at ASU

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Authorities are investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Sunday, October 27 at 300 South Magnolia Street in Albany.

According to Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler, four people were involved in the crash, one person, the driver of the vehicle, is in the hospital and three people have died.

The following people died:

18-year-old Jakwon Hill
20-year-old Zion McClendon
17-year-old Quantavious Vicks

According to a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) report, the suspects failed to yield to officers who were attempting to conduct a traffic stop after they saw a white Mercedes Benz traveling at 75 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Coroner Fowler told WALB that at approximately 1:45 a.m., the car crossed the railroad tracks at Magnolia Street and Broad Avenue, became airborne, struck a tree and then a telephone pole before being blown to pieces. The three passengers in the car were ejected.

GSP said when officers arrived at the scene, they found the driver still in the seat. The driver was taken to hospital with head and facial injuries.

The driver’s condition is unknown at this time.

GSP said a loaded firearm was found after a search of the vehicle.

“Preliminary information from the Albany Police Department indicates that the deceased and the firearm are suspects in the shooting at Albany State University on October 19, during which one person was killed and four others were injured as a result of the shooting,” GSP wrote in the report.

WALB also spoke to neighbors who said they saw the terrible scene. They said officers were chasing a car that crashed near the corner of South Magnolia Street and Edgerly Avenue.

WALB was on the scene of the crash this morning as APD officers blocked roads to allow the GBI to investigate the aftermath.

Neighbors say they woke up to the sound of a white Mercedes hitting a large tree.

“The engine landed there. The broadcast was there. It was just… Honestly, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I was thinking about it all night. I didn’t sleep until about 5am. I just couldn’t imagine it,” said one neighbor.

WALB has reviewed the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s policy regarding high-speed chases within city limits. It provides soldiers with a measure of subjectivity in making pursuit decisions.

According to a previously released statement, “The Department of Public Safety protects Georgians by ensuring our members use good judgment and act within policy and law. Our pursuit policy states that actions must be “objectively justified”.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution conducted an investigation covering 6,700 GSP pursuits from 2019-2023. The article stated that more than half resulted in accidents and that the GSP fatality rate was the worst in the US

“I’m from Florida. In Florida, they don’t do high-speed chases through neighborhoods. They don’t. It’s a busy road and people are constantly walking back and forth. You know, in Florida, when there’s a chase in the neighborhood, they call it off, send in helicopters, and they still get the guy,” another neighbor said.

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