AMERICUS — Further investigation into the murder of a Kennesaw man that ocurred in Americus in 2017 has led police and GBI agents to believe the murder was gang related.
As a result of these findings, a grand jury has charged the murder suspect, who was previously arrested for the crime, with additional charges.
On Dec. 2, a Sumter County Grand Jury was asked to consider new testimony in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Tracy Harvey Johnson of Kennesaw.
On October 18, 2017, the Americus Police Department and GBI began an investigation into Johnson’s death. Johnson was killed at 610 McGarrah St. in Americus. Johnson was 21 at the time of his death.
During the investigation, Americus Police Department investigators and GBI Agents gathered evidence which led to 24-year-old Riyod Reddick, of Albany, being charged with Johnson’s murder.
Reddick was subsequently arrested in Warner Robins, GA on October 26, 2017.
GBI Agents and Americus Police continued to investigate the incident. As the investigation continued, police say they determined that the murder of Johnson was associated with criminal street gang activity. The new evidence related to the gang activity was presented to and reviewed by the Southwestern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lewis Lamb. At District Attorney Lamb’s direction, GBI Agents and the District Attorneys Office presented the new evidence to a Sumter County Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury true billed indictments on the gang related charges. Reddick has now been indicted for:
15 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
1 count of Malice Murder
2 counts of Felony Murder
1 count of Aggravated Assault
1 count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and
1 count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Reddick is currently in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections.