Carr Secures New Conviction for Shooting Death at Athens Apartment Complex

ATHENS, GA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his Gang Prosecution Unit has secured the conviction of Zyquavious Thomas, 18, of Athens, in connection with the May 27, 2024, fatal shooting of 20-year-old Cameron Manago at Rolling Ridge Apartments in Athens. Thomas is an associate of Sex Money Murder, a national set of Bloods that has a strong presence throughout the state.

Created in July 2022, Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit has since partnered with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to obtain 21 convictions in Athens alone, with several other defendants still facing charges. The majority of these cases involve a conflict between two rival gangs known as Everybody Eats (EBE) and Red Tape Gang (RTG).

“As soon as we created our Gang Prosecution Unit in 2022, we immediately partnered with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, GBI and FBI to address an ongoing gang conflict in the area,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “With each new conviction, we’re sending a strong message that violent crime won’t be tolerated in Athens or anywhere in this state, and it’s making a difference. We’re proud to have secured justice for Cameron Manago and his family, and we will continue to use all available resources to keep Georgians safe.”

Senior Assistant Attorney General Ryan Piechocinski and Assistant Attorney General McKenzie Gray prosecuted this case. It was investigated by ACCPD, with assistance from the GBI, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, and Gang Investigators Nathan Shoate and Eliasar Gonzalez with the Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit.  

“We greatly appreciate the strong partnerships we have with agencies across our state and the work we can accomplish when we come together with a shared goal of keeping our community safe,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “Senseless acts of violence have no place in Athens-Clarke County, and we are committed to working with our partners to ensure those who commit these heinous crimes are held accountable. We are grateful that justice was served for Cameron Manago and his family, and we will continue to do everything in our power to get violent offenders off our streets and out of our community.”

“The loss of a young life is devastating, and this case underscores the lasting harm gang violence can have on families and communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “This conviction, just one of 21 gang convictions the GBI has helped the Georgia Attorney General’s Office Gang Prosecution Unit secure in Athens since 2022, reflects the work to hold those responsible for violent crimes accountable. We remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate gang-related violence and protect the communities we serve.”

“The FBI and its partners will not stand by as members of an elaborate criminal enterprise engage in acts that endanger our communities,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We hope every gang member arrested for crimes like these helps bring justice to families impacted by that violence.”

Guilty Plea and Sentencing

On Sept. 16, 2026, Zyquavious Thomas pleaded guilty to the following charges in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. 

• 1 count of Voluntary Manslaughter
• 1 count of Armed Robbery
• 2 counts of Aggravated Assault 
• 4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
• 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• 1 count of Possession of a Handgun by a Person Under the Age of 18 Years  

Thomas was sentenced to 50 years, with the first 35 to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. 

The State’s case against one remaining defendant is active and ongoing. 

About the Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit

In 2022, with the support of Governor Brian Kemp and members of the General Assembly, Attorney General Chris Carr created Georgia’s first statewide Gang Prosecution Unit.

Since it began its historic work on July 1, 2022, the Gang Prosecution Unit has investigated and prosecuted cases in Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Bibb, Bryan, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Dougherty, Fulton, Gwinnett, Laurens, Lowndes, Muscogee, Richmond, Spalding, Thomas, Upson and Washington counties, with 145 convictions secured across the state.   

Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit is based in Atlanta, with regional, satellite prosecutors and investigators in Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Southeast Georgia.   

The Gang Prosecution Unit is housed in the Attorney General’s Prosecution Division, which also includes Carr’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, his White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, and his Organized Retail Crime Unit.