Douglasville Mass Shooting: 5th Suspect Charged In Killing Of 2 Teens

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with the March 2023 gang-related shooting that killed two teens and injured 10 others at a Sitka Drive Sweet 16 house party, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Michael Arthur Williams, 21, who authorities said "was always suspected to have been involved" in the deadly shooting, was arrested in Albany and extradited to Douglas County. Jail records show he was booked Wednesday into the jail.

Williams had been attending school in Albany, authorities said. Video footage of his arrest in Douglas was released Thursday by the sheriff's office.

Four other suspects were arrested days after the shooting that claimed the lives of AJ’anaye "AJ" Hill, 14, and Samuel Moon, 15. Authorities initially said seven people were injured, but said Thursday that 10 people were injured.

The suspects were previously identified as Kingston Cottman, 17, Timothy Lamar Coleman, 18, and twins Chase Terrence McDowell and Chance Terrell McDowell, both 18.

It was while preparing for their upcoming trial that investigators discovered new evidence authorities say led them to Williams. Warrants were then issued to arrest Williams, authorities said.

He was charged on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of participating in a criminal street gang, 10 counts of aggravated battery and 11 counts of aggravated assault, authorities said. No bond had been set as of Thursday, jail records show.

"Sheriff (Tim) Pounds commends his investigators and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for their restless effort to prosecute this case and to leave no stone unturned. Sheriff Tim Pounds and the members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office are committed to the safety of this community and will employ every available resource to do so. This is still an active investigation, and it will not end until all those involved are in custody," authorities said in a news release.

Hill and Moon were not the intended targets of the gang-related shooting, Pounds said at a past news conference.

He identified Coleman and the McDowells as the shooters, noting the McDowells were 17-years-old at the time of the shooting.

A Glock-9 was recovered from Coleman during his arrest, Pounds previously said. It was unclear at the time if it was the gun used in the Sitka Drive shooting. Pounds confirmed the shooting was not a drive-by shooting.

A $40,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.