Three members of the Brunswick gang have pleaded guilty to charges of Aggravated Assault and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. D’andre Bennett, Larry Bennett, and Kwalik Ratliff, all residents of Brunswick, Georgia, entered non-negotiated guilty pleas before Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr. in Glynn County Superior Court.
The guilty pleas come after an incident on June 13, 2022, when the Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) responded to a shots fired call at the intersection of Kensington Drive and Altama Avenue. According to the evidence presented, security camera footage captured a person exiting the back of a Nissan Altima and opening fire on a Toyota Camry. Another individual in the backseat of the Altima also fired shots at the Camry. The Camry eventually crashed into a utility pole, and its three occupants fled the scene.
GCPD detectives were able to identify Kwalik Ratliff as the registered owner of the Altima used by the shooters. With Ratliff's cooperation, they were able to locate D’Andre Bennett and Larry Bennett, who were also in the vehicle, with the assistance of U.S. Marshals.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the shooting was a gang retaliation incident. D’Andre Bennett admitted to being a member of the Rolling 60s Crips gang, while Larry Bennett and Kwalik Ratliff were associated with the gang. D’Andre Bennett was identified as the shooter, Ratliff as the driver, and Larry Bennett as the individual with directions on his cell phone for the location of the victims.
The intended target of the shooting was Prince Brownlee, according to D’Andre Bennett. He also mentioned that a high-ranking member of the Rolling 60s Crips had given "shoot on sight" instructions for Brownlee.
Assistant District Attorney Taylor Herron, who handled the case, expressed gratitude that no innocent bystanders were injured during the shooting, which occurred in broad daylight. Herron emphasized the danger of gang violence, stating, "Gang violence can strike anytime, anywhere, and these gang members don’t care who gets caught in the cross-fire."
Sentencing for D’Andre Bennett, Larry Bennett, and Kwalik Ratliff will be withheld until the arrest of Treyvon Cummings, a fourth co-defendant who failed to appear in court. The Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office has issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Anyone with information regarding Cummings' whereabouts is urged to contact law enforcement.
For further inquiries, members of the media can reach out to the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.