ATLANTA — Atlanta Police offered updates Wednesday in the case of two 13-year-old boys who were gunned down last summer while at a birthday celebration. Police said gang violence led to their lives been taken, adding that the children were innocent victims in the case. 

On July 2, 2024, police said the shooting occurred as the boys were on the stoop of their apartment complex at the intersection of Sparks and Peeples Street in the Oakland City neighborhood. The triple shooting claimed the lives of Lamon Freeman and Jakody Davis. Jakody’s little brother DJ was also injured. 

In Wednesday’s update, police announced they have arrested seven people in connection with a shooting in total, with two suspects being arrested as recently as Tuesday.

“When gun violence touches this neighborhood and can claim the lives of two 13-year-olds, it touches every Atlanta neighborhood,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum during the press conference.

Schierbaum said the FBI assisted in identifying the suspects. Five individuals had already been taken into custody: Quiyontay Sanders, Richard Hollis, Reginald Thomas, Markus Crawford and DeKeitheon Mobley. Tradon Crawford and Ali Caldwell were arrested Tuesday. Authorities noted that Tradon and Markus Crawford are brothers.

Police described the shooting as “gang violence orchestrated by adults” and linked it to tensions between rival gangs. In addition, officers pointed to the cause of the violence as the “cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper who decided to go over into a rival gang’s stronghold and shoot a music video in a place he knew he should not have been.” 

While APD did not reference the rapper by name at the news conference, a criminal warrant for one of the suspects mentions that violence between two gangs — who have historical conflict — “reignited” on May 14, 2024 when rapper Dominque “Lil Baby” Jones shot a music video in the Dixie Hills neighborhood. The warrant also alleges that Lil Baby is affiliated with the 4PF gang (also known as Four Pockets Full). 

“…The evidence revealed an ongoing dispute between 4PF and Only My Family (OMF),a subset of the Goodfellas criminal street gang,” the warrant states. It mentions that Lil Baby went to the 2100 block of Verbena Street WS to shoot the music video. 

“The area is known to be frequented by OMF members and those associated with Dixie Court,” the warrant states. During the May 14 music video shoot, three people where shot. 

Officers said at the news conference that “in the subsequent days, we saw homicides and shootings and ultimately the deaths of two children as a result.”

Investigators said the case led them to a contraband phone in a Georgia jail that was used to orchestrate the attacks. Police said a “hit” was ordered by members the gang “Goodfellas,” which authorities described as one of the most violent gangs in the city.

Officials thanked community members who helped treat wounds, transport victims to hospitals and call 911. They also acknowledged public tips that aided the investigation.

“Each tip was like a little puzzle piece,” a police spokesperson said.

A $50,000 reward remains available for additional information related to the case.

Back in July 2024, the two boys were celebrating Lamon’s birthday when they were shot and killed.

“He was a child,” a neighbor told 11Alive’s Cody Alcorn last year. “He was still scared of the dark.” 

Residents of West End Apartments reported that the shooters ran away after the shooting.

“Y’all took my child away from me, something I can’t get back, like that hurt like I don’t even know what to say my heart is broken,” JaKody’s parent previously said. 

News happens fast. Stream it faster with our FREE 11Alive+ app. Watch newscasts on-demand, plus get breaking news streams with the latest sports, weather and VERIFY content. Available on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Text “plus” to 404-885-7600 to download 11Alive+ and stream now.