7 gang members arrested in connection with fatal shooting of 2 13-year-old boys — one of whom was celebrating his birthday



Atlanta police on Wednesday said they arrested seven gang members in connection with last summer's fatal shooting of two 13-year-old boys — one of whom was celebrating his birthday at the time.

The arrestees are members of the violent Goodfellas gang, WAGA-TV reported.

'The overall theme in this case is grown men playing gangster.'

The suspects were identified as Ali Caldwell, Dekeitheon Mobley, Markus Crawford, Tradon Crawford, Quiyontay Sanders, Reginald Thomas, and Richard Hollis, the station said, adding that Markus Crawford and Tradon Crawford are brothers.

From left: Ali Caldwell, Dekeitheon Mobley, Markus Crawford, Tradon CrawfordImage source: Atlanta Police Department, composite

From left: Quiyontay Sanders, Reginald Thomas, Richard HollisImage source: Atlanta Police Department, composite

The shooting took place just after 12:30 a.m. July 2, 2024, in the 1000 block of Sparks Street SW, police said. Officers found three juvenile males with gunshot wounds, police said, adding that emergency medical services pronounced one dead at the scene while another later died at a hospital, and a third was listed in stable condition at a hospital.

Ja'Kody Davis and Lamon Freeman were identified as the youths who were fatally shot; 11-year-old Dontavious Davis was wounded, WAGA said.

The three boys were gathered to celebrate Freeman's birthday at the time of the shooting, the station said.

"The overall theme in this case is grown men playing gangster," Atlanta Police Homicide Commander Ralph Woolfolk said, according to WAGA. "Lamon Freeman was allowed to be a 13-year-old for 27 minutes before gang violence ultimately took his life."

Police said the attack was in retaliation over an Atlanta-based rapper entering a rival gang’s territory to film a music video, the station reported, adding that authorities said a high-ranking member of the Goodfellas gang actually orchestrated the attacks while behind bars at Hays State Prison.

Following instructions, the suspects opened fire on an apartment complex where the boys were shot, WAGA said. The young victims had no connection to the gangs involved in the turf dispute, police added to the station.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Wednesday that the arrested males are "dangerous individuals," who "if allowed to remain free on the streets of Atlanta ... were going to use guns again to harm," the station said.

Police said they know the identity of the rapper in question but didn't reveal the rapper's name during the press conference or the name of the other gang involved in the dispute, the station said. Police did call the rapper's actions "cowardly," WAGA said.

You can view a video report here about the arrests and fatal shootings.

There is still a $50,000 reward for additional information about the case, the station said, adding that those with information can submit tips anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). WAGA added that tips also can be submitted directly to the Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 404-546-4235.

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AMC hits 'Goodfellas' with a trigger warning over stereotypes and a lack of 'inclusion' and 'tolerance'



Classic mobster movie "Goodfellas" was slapped with a trigger warning by network AMC, which warned that the movie did not live up to "today's" standards of what is considered inclusive and tolerant.

Television viewers of the 1990 crime drama starring Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Robert De Niro were greeted by a sensitivity warning, of all things, for a true story about members of the Italian mafia.

"This film includes language and/or cultural stereotypes that are inconsistent with today's standards of inclusion and tolerance and may offend some viewers," the message read.

However, as the New York Post reported, similar movies on the channel didn't get such a warning. Strangely enough "The Godfather" only received a standard message of "viewer discretion," along with a warning about nudity, strong language, and "intense violence."

'This is how life was back then. It was not a clean beautiful thing. You can’t cleanse history.'

— (@)

A former NYPD police officer, Bo Ditel, who played a policeman in "Goodfellas," said that political correctness is ruining everything.

"The f***ing political correctness has f***ing taken everything away,” he told the New York Post. "This is how life was back then. It was not a clean beautiful thing. You can’t cleanse history. If you want to tell true history, you gotta tell it the way it is."

A former captain of the Colombo crime family also told the outlet that the mob doesn't need protecting.

"It's crazy," he said.

"Lemme speak for all of us Italian Americans: We don't need any coddling," one self-described Italian chef remarked.

Lemme speak for all of us Italian Americans:

We don’t need any coddling.
— Cooking With Sal Minella (@SalMinellaUtube) May 18, 2024

"This is why I own physical media. I won't have to put up with this nonsense," another reader said.

This is why I own physical media. I won't have to put up with this nonsense.
— iBolski 🇺🇸 ✝️ (@iBolski) May 20, 2024

Other reactions included several social media users pointing out that the movie is based on the true story of mobster turned FBI informant Henry Hill and, therefore, shouldn't receive a warning.


Warning: May include lasagna, garlic, wine, and Joe Pesci.
— App (marv) (@appalachiafrog) May 18, 2024

Trigger warnings for movie classics are nothing new in recent years. Disney put lengthy content warnings on its platform Disney+ for films like "Dumbo" and "Peter Pan" in 2020.

In early 2024, classic James Bond movies were presented with trigger warnings by the British Film Institute. The two films in question were 1967's "You Only Live Twice" and "Goldfinger" from 1964. Both films star iconic Scottish actor Sean Connery.

Warnings read that the "films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today (as they did then)."

"The titles are included here for historical, cultural or aesthetic reasons and these views are in no way endorsed by the BFI or its partners," the institute added.

The newer film, "You Only Live Twice," also received its own specific warning of "outdated racial stereotypes," the Independent reported.

The AMC channel is owned by AMC Networks, which also operates the IFC, Acorn TV, and Shudder.

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Actor Michael Imperioli 'forbids bigots and homophobes' to watch 'Sopranos,' 'Goodfellas' in reaction to Supreme Court ruling



Hollywood actor Michael Imperioli declared that "bigots and homophobes" are forbidden from watching "The Sopranos" and movies he starred in his reaction to a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, granting a Christian web designer in Colorado the right to decline having to create a website celebrating same-sex weddings because it goes against her faith. Justice Neil Gorsuch’s opinion noted that the decision stresses "the freedom to think and speak is among our inalienable human rights."

The Supreme Court said without the ruling, it would "allow the government to force all manner of artists, speechwriters, and others whose services involve speech to speak what they do not believe on pain of penalty. The Court’s precedents recognize the First Amendment tolerates none of that."

"All manner of speech — from 'pictures, films, paintings, drawings, and engravings,' to 'oral utterance and the printed word' — qualify for the First Amendment’s protections," the ruling declared.

The ruling does not overrule state laws that prevent businesses from discriminating against customers based on their race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation.

Imperioli shared a screenshot of a news headline of the Supreme Court ruling defending the freedom of creators.

Imperioli captioned the photo: "I've decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching The Sopranos, The White Lotus, Goodfellas or any movie or tv show I’ve been in. Thank you Supreme Court for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don’t agree with and am opposed to. USA ! USA!"

Imperioli added, "Hate and ignorance is not a legitimate point of view."

The Hollywood actor ranted in the comments, "America is becoming dumber by the minute."


A week ago, Imperioli wrote on Instagram: "HAPPY PRIDE 2023! much love to all…stay strong, be fearless, be proud. and make sure to register to VOTE so we can get the bigots out of office!"

Imperioli's character in "The Sopranos," Christopher Moltisanti, discussed wanting to kill a fellow mafia member because he is gay. Imperioli's character used a homophobic slur and said he wanted to cut off the gay man's penis and feed it to him.

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