Breaking: Escaped Rockdale inmate arrested in Newton County
Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Georgia high school graduation party turns deadly

What to do when you're stopped by police
By Tim Darnell
May 26, 2020

A high school graduation party turned deadly Sunday, when one person was shot and killed and two others were injured in the southeastern Georgia town of Alamo.

The shootings happened about 2:10 a.m. on Bluebird Lane, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Police said a large graduation party was underway when several people exchanged gunfire.

Ronesta Kotoya Williams, 42, of Alamo was shot and killed, and two other people — Michael Waddell, 26, of McRae and India Harris, 18, of Alamo — were injured.

Waddell was listed in critical condition. Harris received a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and received medical treatment.

No arrests have been made.

About the Author

Tim Darnell
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta police officers offer an early assist with the search for Rockdale County escaped inmate Timothy Shane, who ran away from Grady Memorial Hospital on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BREAKING

Escaped Rockdale inmate arrested in Newton County

An escaped Rockdale County inmate has been apprehended in Newton County after three days on the run, according to officials.

13m ago

Report: Traffic fatalities outpace homicides in metro Atlanta

Analysis draws comparison between the two, pointing out that roadway deaths should be more preventable than violence, with proven safety upgrades that can prevent them.

Roswell, South Fulton select new mayors in runoff election

Runoffs decided more than a dozen local contests in metro Atlanta on Tuesday.

The Latest

Atlanta police officers offer an early assist with the search for Rockdale County escaped inmate Timothy Shane, who ran away from Grady Memorial Hospital on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BREAKING

Escaped Rockdale inmate arrested in Newton County

13m ago

Funding cuts threaten legal services for at-risk Atlantans

Report: Traffic fatalities outpace homicides in metro Atlanta

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo

A 30-year-old’s overdose sparked a new law. Now courts are testing how far it can go.

Austin’s Law, passed in 2024, is leading to convictions of fentanyl dealers after a father’s fight for justice following his son’s overdose death.

Jared Curtis isn’t the only Georgia football storyline to watch on signing day

What will National Signing Day look like? It is starting to materialize significant storylines.

Search for inmate who escaped from Grady hospital enters second day

Timothy Shane is accused of stealing an SUV and then crashing it during the getaway, according to authorities.