Four accused in gang-related shooting death of Athens 3-year-old indicted, attorney general says (2024)

ATHENS, Ga. — Four people, including two teens, accused in the gang-related shooting death of an innocent Athens toddler have been indicted, according to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.

Carr announced the latest in the case at a news conference about gang violence in the Athens area.

“The death of three-year-old Kyron Santino Zarco Smith is a tragedy that should have never occurred, and we’re committed to ensuring those responsible are held fully accountable for their actions,” said Carr in a news release.

The toddler, Kyron, and his 9-year-old brother were shot around 5:30 p.m. on March 8 at Hallmark Mobile Home Park on Spring Valley Road while watching a movie inside the home. His 9-year-old brother and another adult survived the shooting, but Kyron sadly didn't make it.

An Athens Clarke County grand jury indicted Julian Cubillos, Jayden Brown, Dakious Echols, and Desmontrez Mathis on malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

According to the attorney general's office, the grand jury indicted the defendants as members of a local gang called "Everybody Eats." The office added that on the day of the deadly shooting, the four suspects were allegedly targeting a rival gang in order to "maintain and increase their status."

At a news conference, Carr said that there had been five gang-related shootings between April 2022 and March 2024, and at least four of those shootings were deadly.

"It's a pattern of violence that is unacceptable and the people of Athens-Clarke County deserve better," Carr said at the news conference on Wednesday. "What concerns me more is who is often terrorized by gangs -- low income, racially diverse and immigrant populations."

The attorney general added that he believes majority of the shootings are believed to be involved in the ongoing conflict between the "Everybody Eats" and "Red Tape Gang" in Athens.

Carr has created the Gang Prosecution Unit in July 2022, which works to combat gang violence in the entire Peach State. The unit partnered with the Athens Clarke County Police leading to 21 people being indicted in separate cases.

“Our hearts still grieve with the family of Kyron Zarco whose tragic loss shook the Athens community,” Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters said. "A three-year-old who had his life in front of him."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, FBI Atanta, Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other local law enforcement agencies.

GBI Director Chris Hosey also spoke at Wednesday's news conference.

"This act of senseless violence is another example of the actions of criminal street gangs and how their actions affect our Georgia community," Hoseys said.

You can watch Wednesday's full press conference below:

More about the alleged gang war

Authorities reported in March that the two gangs are the "Red Tape Gang" (RTG) and the "Everybody Eats" gang (EBE). The Georgia Attorney General's Office described RTG as "a local hybrid criminal street gang with ties to major national Bloods, including Sex Money Murder and the Rollin’ 20s." The EBE gang is similar to RTG.

Sources tell 11Alive that the feud between these two gangs is believed to have started when rapper Ke'Travian Cole broke off from RTG and helped create EBE. Cole was better known in the music industry as "EBE Montana." For a full report click the related link below.