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VOLUME 24 NUMBER 3
APRIL 14, 2018
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Published Since April 1995
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Detectives are still looking to locate a possible witness captured by surveillance footage who has not come forward. Photo provided
Juvenile charged with Easter murder of 3-year-old T’Rhigi
July 4, 1959—April 6, 2018
By Valerie J. Morgan
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eKalb County Police have arrested a 15-yearold male suspect in the fatal Easter shooting of a 3-yearold toddler who was sleeping in the back seat of his mother’s SUV. Police made the arrest around 2 p.m. on April 11—10 days after T’Rhigi Craig was shot in the chest as his mother, Rashonda Craig, was driving around 11:30 p.m. on Bouldercrest Road near Eastland Road in East Atlanta. The juvenile was charged with murder. His name was withheld because of his age. Police Chief James W. Conroy said detectives worked tirelessly to locate witnesses who were at the gas station near the intersection the night the child was killed. The loss of T’Rhigi is tragic and senseless. It is my hope that this arrest will bring some sense of comfort and closure to his family,” Conroy said. The toddler had celebrated his third birthday two days before the shooting, relatives said. Family and friends held a candlelight vigil for T’Rhigi as his parents grieved. He was buried on April 7. Be Someone founder Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson who teaches young people how to make the right choices through the game of chess, said he was saddened by the child’s death. Hudson said he is praying for the family and he is inspired to work even harder to make a difference through his program in DeKalb. “We’ve got to teach our
T’Rhigi Craig
children to pause, ponder and pray before they proceed. I believe if he (the shooter) had been in my program, we could have made a difference,” said Hudson. “I believe we could have changed the trajectory of his life. We have a generation of children who think it’s cool to be a thug. We’ve got to stop this nonsense.” Hudson said he recently trained about 15 juveniles in DeKalb who are in detention. DeKalb County Police cracked the case after reviewing surveillance footage and locating witnesses at a gas station near the intersection. Police initially thought the single bullet came from a gray or silver Dodge, which Craig said pulled up beside her black SUV. Craig told police the occupants had a paintball gun. She didn’t realize her child had been shot until she pulled over and saw the child bleeding. Conroy said police determined, however, that based on the trajectory, the shot came from the gas station—not the car that pulled up beside Craig. Detectives are still looking to locate one other person captured by surveillance footage who has not come forward. This individual is considered a witness and is asked to call DeKalb PD Homicide at 770724- 7850.
Friends placed a memorial of flowers and balloons in front of Jesse’s Restaurant & Lounge, located in the Wesley Chapel Crossing Shopping Center in South DeKalb. Mr. Cunningham was remembered on April 7 at the Cultural Exchange Community Breakfast hosted by Stonecrest City Councilman Rob Turner and his wife, DeKalb School Board member Vicki B. Turner. The packed audience held a moment of silence to remember Mr. Cunningham. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCGNews
Jesse “Jay” Cunningham Former DeKalb School Board Member remembered as a dedicated community servant
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By Valerie J. Morgan
ormer DeKalb County School Board member and business owner Jesse “Jay“ Cunningham is being remembered by family and friends as a dedicated servant who deeply cared about his community. Mr. Cunningham died of a heart attack on April 6. He was 58. “Georgia has lost one of its tallest pines,” said State Rep. Vernon Jones. “He will be missed.” Evelyn Cunningham said her husband had continued to work and serve the community, despite health issues. She said he had suffered a heart attack last year and recently, he had a stroke. He had complained of feeling tired a couple of days before he passed, she said during an interview at their home. “He was running the business, putting in a lot of hours,” said Evelyn Cunningham. Jesse Cunningham had recently renovated Jesse’s Restaurant & Lounge on Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur. With the help of his brother, Malcolm Cunningham, a businessman in the automobile industry, and his son, Brandon, they reopened the restaurant earlier this year after a renovation. Brandon, who was helping to promote the business through social media, said the restaurant is temporarily closed as the family grieves. State Rep. Earnest “Coach” Williams said
Jesse Cunningham poured his all into the restaurant just as he did into public service. “He was a good public servant. He put all the effort he could into serving the community,” said Williams, who supported the restaurant, holding his birthday party and his wife’s birthday party at Jesse’s. Pastor Lee May, DeKalb County’s former interim CEO, said Cunningham had a big heart. “When we were organizing our church last year, we would have breakfast at the restaurant and he would serve us and join us to offer input,” said May. May said he first met Cunningham in 2006, the year they both were elected for public office. May was elected to the DeKalb Board of Commissioners. Cunningham was elected to the DeKalb Board of Education, serving for eight years. “He really lobbied to help the schools in our community. In fact, he lobbied for the expansion of Southwest DeKalb High School, which is where my congregation is now leasing space for our church on Sundays,” said May. Cunningham was a well-known champion for MLK, McNair and Southwest DeKalb high schools, as well as Flat Rock and Narvie J. Harris elementary schools. He also served as the District 11 director for the Georgia PTA. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary said Cun-
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Sponsors needed to serve meals during summer food program Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is seeking eligible organizations to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program in their communities. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides access to healthy meals to children during the summer months when school is out. The program reimburses non-profit, governmental, and other eligible organizations for providing free meals to
children in low-income areas during the summer months. The following entities can qualify as sponsors: public or private nonprofit schools; universities, colleges or camps; units of local and state government; private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations considered tax exempt by the IRS. Sponsors can operate the program and feed children at various sites such as schools, churches, recreation centers, community and migrant centers, and other areas where
children congregate. Mobile meal sites are also an option for sponsors – particularly in rural areas of the state. “The Summer Food Service Program is critically important in combating childhood hunger during the summer,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “Sponsoring organizations ensure children across the state have access to nutritious and well-balanced meals during the summer months when school is not in session. Without the work of these community-
based organizations, many children may not receive the healthy meals they need.” DECAL is focusing on boosting the number of sponsors participating in the program, particularly in South Georgia, where program participation has been historically lower than participation in the metro Atlanta area. Sponsors receive training and support relating to the application process and nutrition education. They also receive technical assistance
while the program is operating. For more information about the SFSP, contact Shani Drake, marketing and outreach manager, at Shani.Drake@ decal.ga.gov or 404-656-3221. For more information on becoming an SFSP sponsor, visit DECAL’s website at http://www.decal.ga.gov/BftS/ SFSPBecomingASponsor.aspx or contact the SFSP team toll free at 1-855-550-SFSP (7377) or via e-mail at SFSP@decal. ga.gov.