One dead, one injured

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The Elks Club was site of a murder. Beth Alston

September 23, 2008

Beth Alston

AMERICUS — A Thursday night party at a local club resulted in one injury and one death after a fight erupted.

According to a news release from the Americus Police Department, officers were called to Sumter Regional Hospital East at 2:18 a.m. Friday to the report of an aggravated assault incident, which had occurred at the Elks Club, 1203 N. Jackson St. where a fight inside the club had escalated into the parking lot where two men were stabbed.

The release says that Kentroylis Clark, 23, of Starlight Circle, Americus and Trampest Arnett, 23, of Cypress Drive, Americus had both been stabbed multiple times to the upper torso. Clark was treated for his injuries at Sumter Regional and was released on Sunday. Arnett, however, was transported to Columbus Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 5:18 a.m. Friday.

The release said that the initial investigation by detectives of the Americus Police Department, agents of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region III Americus Office and investigators from the Southwestern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office revealed the victims had been assaulted during an altercation at the club, which began inside and then went outside into the parking lot where both men were stabbed.

Another news release says that around 10 a.m. Monday, Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) Campus Police took into custody London Renay Morgan, 19, of Fayetteville. She is charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault.

She was jailed at the Sumter County Jail.

Maj. Richard McCorkle, chief of detectives at the Americus Police Department, told the Times-Recorder Monday that the party, according to witnesses, was “a Kappa event,” hosted by a black fraternity.

Stephen Snyder, GSW, public relations director/development officer, said Monday the party was not hosted by a GSW fraternity.

McCorkle said the investigation continues and that “there could be another 12 to 15 people arrested before it’s over, involving the fight and the operation of the club.”

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