VALDOSTA – Five individuals were arrested Tuesday on theft and gun charges after police responded to reported gunfire coming from a Valdosta backyard.

On November 22 at approximately 11:08 a.m., Valdosta Police Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 5000 block of Fontana Road in reference to people discharging firearms in a backyard.

Officers arrived on scene and witnesses advised officers that the suspects were leaving the scene in a gray Nissan Maxima. Officers conducted a traffic stop and recovered several rifles and handguns. Contact was later made with the homeowner of the residence in the 5000 block of Fontana Road who gave officers consent to search the residence. Officers recovered two more rifles and two shotguns.

Of the weapons recovered, a handgun, a rifle and a shotgun had been reported stolen from a house in Lakeland, Georgia.

Taurian Werts, African American male, age 18; Satoria Thatp, African American female, age 17;
LaPharoah James, African American male, age 17; William Smith, African American male, age 18 and a
Juvenile, age 16 were all arrested and charged with theft by receiving stolen property-firearm (felony), reckless conduct, discharge of firearm in city limits and possession of firearm under age 21. All were taken to the Lowndes County Jail except for the juvenile who was turned over to his mother.

“The police department continues to investigate the possibility of these firearms being involved in other crimes,” stated Captain Kari Williams.

Release from the Valdosta Police Department