Morning News with Lee Henderson

This story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution…For 19 hours, officers from two counties tried to persuade a man to release his 2-year-old son from a Gwinnett County home. Only when shots were fired did the standoff end and it was not the ending officers had wanted. After allegedly shooting the toddler, the man then shot himself as officers entered the room, Gwinnett police said. Neither the man nor the child survived their injuries. Investigators had not determined why 43-year-old father shot his 2 year old son and then himself. Police believe the incident began as an argument between Ho and his girlfriend. The woman told her teenage son to call 911. The teenager and his mother were able to get out of the home safely.

The City of Valdosta’s Neighborhood Development Division is partnering with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, Inc. to expand community access to job training and connections services through a series of workshops and a new Job Connections Kiosk in the City’s Customer Service Center. Throughout the year, free workshops will be held the third Wednesday of every month in the City Hall Annex Multi-Purpose Room, located at 300 N. Lee St. The first series of workshops will focus on the following topics:

Jan. 20: Resume Writing
Feb. 17: Job Searching Tips & Tidbits
March 16: Interview Time

The DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James will file for a criminal indictment against police officer Robert Olsen. He shot and killed 27 year old Anthony Hill last March prompting protests. A grand jury recommended that the investigation into the incident continue. Hill was an Afghanistan War veteran. Reportedly, Hill who was unarmed at the time, was wanderingoutside his residence without clothing. Friends stated that the incident with Hill was driven by an adverse reaction to medication he was taking for bipolar disorder.

Brandon Sibley and Donte Robinson both teenagers were spotted by security personnel at the Sylvester Wal-Mart and when stopped it was discovered that the teens had stolen X-Box games valued at nearly $1,000. The games had been hidden in a box of disposable diapers. Both posted bond and were released from jail.

An 11 year old passenger was killed in a vehicular crash that took place in Berrien County and his 50 year old mother who drove was seriously injured; she was airlifted to a hospital in Thomasville. According to the GSP the female lost control of her vehicle and crashed; the 12 year old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The boy is identified as Edgar Gutierrez.

Cashing fraudulent checks has landed April Jones in jail. Bainbridge law enforcement officials say that she had cashed checks for over $800 at stores in their city and in Valdosta. Her cohorts in crime were Angeria Morning and an unidentified male. During Jones apprehension Morning and the man drove away leaving Jones to be arrested. Warrants have been issued for Angeria Morning and officials are working to capture the man involved.

Special programs will be held honoring the memory of Kendrick Johnson on the third anniversary of the death of the 17-year-old who was found dead, inside of a rolled gym mat, in the old gym of Lowndes High School. Organizers of the events plan a peace walk, a dinner ball and a balloon release this weekend. A state autopsy ruled his death accidental. The Johnson family has maintained their son died as a result of foul play.

FRIDAY

• 10 a.m., a rally will be held at the Lowndes County Courthouse; a meet and greet, showing of a documentary, etc., follows later in the day.

SATURDAY

• 10 a.m., KJ Day, Saunders Park, River Street.

• Third Anniversary Peace Walk 2016. Assembly, 1 p.m. Saturday