Alleged Forrest Shooter Arrested

((HT: AJC/Garner-Stevens))

Charmon Sinkfield, 30, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals on Wednesday night, Atlanta police spokesman Officer Eric Schwartz said. He is the third man to be charged in connection with Forrest’s slaying.

An arrest warrant had previously been issued after tips from witnesses and video surveillance led police to Sinkfield. Marshals staked out a home in southwest Atlanta, and they followed a black sedan from Nathan Street to I-20 around 9 p.m., according to Marshal James Ergas.

Twelve unmarked cars trailed the sedan for about 10 minutes Wednesday evening before forcing the vehicle to stop.

Sinkfield, who was in the backseat, was one of three people in the sedan. At one point, he attempted to disguise himself with a wig, Ergas said.

Sinkfield was taken into custody on I-20 near Hamilton E. Holmes Drive. The driver of the sedan was taken into custody for an unrelated incident.

Sinkfield is the final of three suspects whom investigators were seeking in the shooting of the Atlanta boxer. Previously, police arrested two suspects in connection with the fatal shooting Forrest.

Jquante Crews, 25, and Damario Ware, 20, face murder, weapons, assault and robbery charges. Authorities said neither suspect shot Forrest, who was killed outside a southwest Atlanta convenience store July 26.

Sinkfield faces murder, assault and firearms charges.

Here's local coverage as the story broke, thanks to our friends at WAGA-TV/MyFoxAtlanta. Russ Spencer and George Franco are your principals...



Here's the surveillance tape that Atlanta police were using for their initial pursuit of those allegedly involved in the robbery and murder...
Thanks to our friends at WGCL-TV/CBS Atlanta News

Forrest Suspect Appears In Court

((HT: AJC/Cook))

The grandmother of a 20-year-old suspect in the death of boxer Vernon Forrest cried as Damario Ware ((pictured, thanks AJC/John Spink)) made his first court appearance wearing a jail jumpsuit and handcuffs.

“I taught him right from wrong,” Rose Thomas said outside the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday after Ware’s initial court appearance lasting less than a minute, the time it took a magistrate to read him his rights.

Thomas, who raised Ware, sat alone on one of the two benches set aside for the public in the jail courtroom , crying into her hands.

So far, Ware is the only person charged with killing Forrest during an attempted robbery in a southwest Atlanta convenience store parking lot early on July 26.

Ware surrendered to police Tuesday. The image of a man believed to be Ware was captured on surveillance video confronting the boxer. Ware is charged with murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and two gun offenses.

Police suspect as many as four more were involved.

Lt. Keith Meadows, who heads the Atlanta Police Department’s homicide unit, said Wednesday, “we are following other leads and I expect there will be more arrests soon.”

He declined to be specific.

Charles Watson, Forrest’s friend and manager and the spokesman for the boxer’s family, was angry about the direction he saw the case going.

“Right now they are probably trying to cut a deal with this guy [Ware] to get the shooter,” Watson said. “We don’t want a deal. We want justice. All of them should be convicted for the crime for murder.”

He said Ware should not get any special treatment because he “started the whole chain reaction with the robbery.”

The grandmother and Ware’s uncle, Frederick Waters, said a threatening call came to the Thomas house; they believe it was intended to frighten Ware about possible danger to his family should he be thinking about helping police.

According to Thomas, the caller Wednesday morning warned “don’t go to a service station late at night” and also said someone was going to “shoot up my house.”

Vernon Forrest, a 38-year-old former world welterweight boxing champion, was putting air in a rear tire on his Jaguar when Ware allegedly approached him. Forrest’s godson was inside the store, buying snacks.

Police said Forrest, armed, chased the robber down Whitehall Street, but lost sight of the man. As he was walking back, however, he encountered another armed man, and the two exchanged words.

Realizing he had confronted the wrong man, police said, Forrest turned to walk away. He was shot in the back seven or eight times. Police believe the man who shot Forrest was not involved in the robbery.

Forrest’s gold and diamond “4X World Champion” ring and a Rolex watch were taken and have not been recovered.

“He wasn’t raised to do the things he done,” the grandmother said. “I pray to God to guide him. He’s grown now so it’s out of my hands. I’m so sorry. I hurt for the Forrest family.”

Waters, Ware’s uncle, added as he helped his mother into a mini van, “our prayers go out to his family.”

He appeared at a jailhouse hearing in front of Fulton County Magistrate Sylvia McCoy, who read him the charges. Wearing a navy blue jail jumpsuit and handcuffs, Ware said nothing other than "yes, ma'am" and kept his eyes on the floor. He is being held without bond.

Morse Diggs from WAGA-TV and MyFoxAtlanta has the details from the courthouse...

Arrest Made In Forrest Murder

((HT: AJC/Garner))

A man charged in the shooting death of boxer Vernon Forrest will be in court Wednesday.

Damario Ware, 20, on Tuesday turned himself in to the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, police spokesman Officer James Polite said.

Charges against Ware ((pictured, thanks Fulton County Sheriff's Office)) include murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery.

At the time of Forrest’s robbery and murder, Ware was on bond for a March arrest in which he faced charges of obstruction of a police officer and several counts of criminal trespassing and entering an auto, jail officials said.

Forrest’s friend and manager Charles Watson said this arrest wasn’t enough.

“I want them to catch all of them,” Watson said. “It’s bittersweet.”

Long-time mentor and early boxing coach Al Mitchell said he was confident police will catch all the suspects.

“Once they get one, I guarantee they’ll find the others,” Mitchell. “They need to give all of them the [electric] chair.”
Forrest was killed on the night of July 26 when he chased an armed robber from a convenience store on Whitehall Street in southwest Atlanta.

The robber took Forrest’s gold and diamond “4X World Champion” ring and a Rolex watch, then the 38-year-old boxer pulled a gun on the robber, police said.

Police last week released video footage of an individual they believe was Forrest’s robber.

Police believe Forrest lost sight of the robber and encountered a different armed man. The two exchanged words and Forrest turned to walk away, realizing he had confronted the wrong man, police said.

The man shot Forrest seven or eight times in the back, police said.

Ware, is one of as many as four individuals police were seeking.

He is being held at the Fulton County Jail, and will have his first court appearance Wednesday morning.

Police continue to investigate.

Here's coverage from our friends at WAGA-TV and MyFoxAtlanta
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