Teens Charged With Murder In Fannin County

MORGANTON, GA — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said four teenagers have been charged in connection to the shooting death of a 33-year-old man in Fannin County.

Blake Dickey (also known as Blake Dye) and Hunter Hill, both 15 and from Blairsville, and Dalton Levi Manuel, 15, of Morganton, are all charged with murder following the Dec. 4 incident. Dakota Ricky Cloer, 15, is also charged with party to the crime of murder.

GBI agents were requested to help the Fannin County Sheriff's Office with the investigation around 1:38 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Elrod Lane in Morganton, which is about 100 miles north of Atlanta.

Sheriff's deputies were sent to the area after 911 dispatchers received a call from a woman who said she and another man had been shot. Those deputies arrived to find 33-year-old Justin McKinney of Morganton dead at the scene. The 35-year-old woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Dickey and Hill were arrested Wednesday while Manuel and Cloer were taken into custody on Thursday. The four teens are being housed at regional youth detention centers.

The GBI notes addition charges could be forthcoming. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be provided to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution.

According to his obituary, Justin Wayne McKinney was born in Marietta and worked in the construction industry before his death. He is survived by mother and step-father, Russell and Debra McKinney Bignardi; mother, Helen Cantrell; girlfriend, Anna Bradford; sister, Catherine Greenway; brothers, Jason Cantrell, Jacob Cantrell, Joshua Cantrell, Phillip Dean and Jeremiah Wright.

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From left to right are Dakota Cloer, Blake Dickey, Hunter Hill and Dalton Manuel. Credit: Fannin County Sheriff's Office