Royston Considers Surveillance Cameras at City Parks, other Properties

Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman is working with the City of Royston to put surveillance cameras in each of the City’s public parks.

Boleman made the request at the City Council meeting earlier this month after a woman reported a shooting in July in Tony Jones Park.

According to Chief Boleman, three of the four suspects in that incident have been arrested and charged and a fourth suspect is still being sought.

“The incident occurred on 07/20/2020 at about 1800 hours at Daniel Street at the intersection of Tony Jones Park,” Boleman said. “The incident involved a silver Chevy Tahoe and several individuals located in the parking lot of Tony Jones Park and was a dispute that resulted in gunfire from multiple individuals. We are currently still discussing this case with District Attorney and further charges could follow.”

A witness told the City Council that it sounded like dozens of rounds were fired from an automatic weapon.

The Chief said Monday, these types of crimes are not typical in Royston City Parks and there’s been no increase in crimes at any of the parks there.

“It was an isolated event that occurred at this park. We’ve not had any other incidents at any of our parks. It was just an isolated event based on heated emotions and people arguing,” Boleman said.

Boleman said however, he is now working with the City to explore putting in public surveillance cameras at the parks.

He believes surveillance cameras give citizens an extra level of safety not only at the parks but at all city-owned properties.

“I believe surveillance cameras could make a huge impact on providing additional safety for all our parks,” Boleman said. “That’s something we’re looking at now. We’re contacting vendors to come in and give us quotes to start getting a plan together. We’re hoping to get all of our city properties, from the cemetery all the way up covered with surveillance cameras.”

Those arrested in the July park shooting incident are identified as Keshaun Mayfield, Kyairre Thomas, and Antwon Long. A fourth suspect, Pierre Oliver of Toccoa, is still at large.

Mayfield is charged with nine counts of aggravated assault.

Thomas and Long are each charged with seven counts of aggravated assault and all three are charged with criminal damage to property in the first degree, firing a firearm within 50 yards of a highway/street, shooting a firearm on the property of another and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes.

Oliver faces the same charges as Thomas and Long.