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New arrest made in BB gun vandalism
0227troy turner
Troy R. Turner

A third person has been arrested in connection with an early-morning BB gun shooting spree that left nearly 40 cars damaged.

Jalissa Nicole Phillips, 18, was also charged with firing a BB gun at a pedestrian during Tuesday morning’s wave of vandalism, Gainesville Lt. Brian Kelly said. The pedestrian was not struck, Kelly said.

Authorities say the damage caused by Phillips, 26-year-old Ronnie Lance Turner and 18-year-old Troy R. Turner totals $20,763.

The Turners, who are believed to be related but are not brothers, face multiple counts of felony criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.

Police believe the shooting spree began after the Turners shoplifted a BB gun from the Shallowford Road Wal-Mart about 3 a.m. Friday.

The Turners and Phillips are accused of riding through town in a car, shooting front and back car windshields at random. The damage occurred on Spring Haven Drive, Atlanta Street apartments, Oconee Springs on Spring Haven Drive, The Retreat at McEver on Eagle Eye Road, Melrose Apartments on Davis Street and Amberleigh Trace, among other locations.

"They were shooting at any target they could locate," Kelly said.

A 25-year-old man said he was walking on Northside Drive near North Avenue when a car pulled up and the two men opened fire. He was not hit or injured, police said.

The three face charges of aggravated assault for shooting at the man.