A Georgia sheriff is asking the public for help to track down the “cowards” responsible for the shooting and killing of an 8-year-old girl in a weekend drive-by attack.
Arbrie Anthony, of Augusta, was pronounced dead at a hospital Saturday night after suffering a gunshot wound to the head outside her apartment complex, according to Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. His office has now released surveillance footage of a red and orange Jeep Compass TrailHawk with a large black stripe on the hood, hoping to trace at least two suspects who have not yet been identified.
“We have some leads…some people called,” Roundtree told reporters Monday. “But again, this is an 8 year old little girl who was shot in the head in her own front yard. Our phones should be ringing off the hook. They don’t get a passport and that’s why we want the public to know that we need their help.”
This Jeep Compass Trailhawk was seen fleeing the scene of the shooting, police say.
(Richmond County Sheriff’s Office)
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Roundtree said investigators do not believe the shooting was accidental but noted there is no reason to believe Anthony was the intended target. At this point, a motive has yet to be determined, but nothing — including gang violence — can be ruled out, he added.
“We are following every lead that comes in, but I cannot and will not accept the fact that no one knows who these suspects are,” Roundtree said. “There are individuals in this community who knew why they were there, knew what they were there for, and knew who they were after, but they haven’t presented that information yet.”
The sheriff said investigators first responded to a call with gunfire around 7:25 p.m. Saturday and found upon arrival that Anthony had been taken to a local hospital in a private vehicle.
The getaway vehicle had a similar livery to this Jeep Tailhawk shown here in an independent image.
(Jeep)
Roundtree said at the scene of the shooting, where a social gathering was taking place, there were horses for children to pet. One of the animals died after being hit by gunfire, while a car was also hit by bullets.
A total of 5 to 10 shots were fired from the Jeep vehicle’s passenger side window, according to Roundtree, who described it as a “drive-by shooting.”
“Any gun violence is pointless, but I think these are cowards, these individuals,” he said.
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Friends and relatives of Anthony held a vigil on her Sunday.
“She was out here, she was playing like she always does. She wanted to pet the horse, she saw horses and just got murdered senseless,” said Oluwatayo George, Arbrie’s cousin, according to the Associated Press.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
