Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS -- A dispute that apparently originated at Rockdale County High School led to shots fired on Classic Drive last week.

According to the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, Clifford Natrae Durham, 17, 116 Ellis Drive, Conyers has been charged with aggravated assault, discharge of firearms on or near public highway or street, and possession of a firearm during commission of or attempt to commit a felony in connection with the incident, which occurred May 9 at about 4 p.m.

According to the RCSO report, Durham allegedly drove by a house on Classic Drive, off Ga. Highway 138, where the homeowner said her son and three other teenage boys were standing under the back deck talking. The homeowner said her son is not a student at RCHS, but the other three teens are. She also said she overheard one of the teens talking on his cell phone about some type of altercation that had occurred at RCHS that day.

The homeowner said she decided to walk her dog, and as she went out of the front door a tan- or champagne-colored Chevrolet Tahoe followed by a maroon Ford Taurus approached her house and she heard three or four gunshots as the vehicles passed in front of her house. She ran inside and called 911.

According to the deputy's report, the complainant was reluctant to allow her son or her 19-year-old daughter, who was at home, give statements to the deputy. Her son and the three other boys fled when the shots were fired, according to the report.

The deputy later spoke to a group of witnesses down the street who said they heard the gunshots and saw the two vehicles described by the complainant. One witness said both vehicles had four occupants inside. The witness said the vehicles drove by three different times and said he heard three or four gunshots.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Durham was identified by a witness as a suspect in the case, which led to his arrest.

Investigator Michael Camp said it was unclear if the suspect was firing a gun at the house or at the teens behind the house. He said the incident did not appear to be gang-related.

A spent shell casing from what appeared to be a 9mm or a .380 caliber was found in the street in front of the complainant's house. No bullet holes were found in the house. No one was injured in the incident.