By Carlen Hultgren
Police have arrested a man allegedly behind an East Atlanta Village burglary turned killing, which has rocked the community. The Atlanta Police Fugitive Unit arrested Jeffries Anderson, 36, on a murder charge in the death of Alex Newton, 30, on November 23. He was connected to the crime by DNA and through Crime Stoppers tips, police said. Police said he may be responsible for other burglaries in the area and that he had served 12 years in prison for manslaughter. Investigators don’t believe Anderson was after anything in particular at Newton’s apartment.
On Monday, October 31, Alex Newton, returned home for lunch at the Alexan EAV, an apartment complex on Metropolitan Avenue in East Atlanta Village (EAV). He saw his apartment door was broken, and upon entering, came upon a burglary in process. The burglar had a gun, the two fought, and it ended with Newton being fatally shot. Emergency medical teams also responded but the victim was already deceased. There was a witness to the crime who was helpful to the police in putting together the chain of events.
On November 1, Atlanta City Council Member Natalyn Archibong (District 5, which includes East Atlanta) called an emergency meeting held at Branan Towers, with the sole purpose of discussing public safety concerns following the crime. This meeting included the command staff of APD, a representative from Alexan EAV, East Atlanta Community Association (EACA) officers and members, as well as neighbors from the apartment complex and the East Atlanta community at large.
It was an informative meeting. Council Member Archibong closed it with her thanks to all who attended. Her final words summed up the most important aspect of the meeting, “We care … and we are all in this together. East Atlanta is a very, very strong community. We care about our neighbors. We are going to get through this together. We have stood strong and will continue to stand strong.”
The East Atlanta community would like to commend Council Member Archibong for putting the meeting together and the APD, who have been working with Trammel Crow to develop a safer environment at Alexan EAV, as well as the East Atlanta area in general, where crime has gone down significantly in recent years. East Atlanta also extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Alex, and all share in the sadness it has brought to the area.
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