Three jailed, fourth man shot, investigation continues into shooting death in Rome

Published 11:45 am Friday, May 8, 2009

Three people have been arrested in connection with a brutal robbery Wednesday on East 19th Street that led to the death of a Cedartown teenager, but police were still searching late Thursday for the alleged gunman.

A warrant for murder was issued Thursday for Bryan Edward Williams, 39, of Rome, aka David Jones, who is considered armed and dangerous, said Lt. Gary Clayton of the Rome Police Department.

Williams, a convicted felon with a criminal history dating back to 1989, is described as 5-foot-11, weighing about 230 pounds. He has brown eyes with black hair or bald. Anyone with information about the shooting should contact the Rome police detective division at (706) 238-5118.

Police suspect he was the triggerman in the death of 19-year-old Jeffrey Pledger of Cedartown during a violent robbery attempt on East 19th Street in Rome around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Residents reported hearing multiple shots fired in the area, and police responded to the scene. Pledger was rushed to the hospital but died shortly thereafter. He was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m. at Floyd Medical Center, according to Deputy Coroner Ernie Studard

Eric Bernard Hightower, 37, of 502 Brown St., was arrested and charged with felony murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery Thursday morning. He remained at the scene after the shooting, occasionally riding a bike around the neighborhood, talking to neighbors and chatting with a small crowd that gathered in front of the scene.

Trenton Tyrice Williamson, 18, of 406 Brown St., and Chiresco Rodriquez Montgomery, 28, of Cedartown, were also arrested and charged with plotting to rob Pledger. Police did not elaborate on their roles in the robbery.

Hightower and Montgomery were picked up late Wednesday night and brought in for questioning. They were arrested and booked at the jail Thursday morning. Williamson turned himself in and was arrested around noon Thursday.

Detectives scoured the area gathering evidence and confiscated the suspected murder weapon, a firearm, as well as towing a shot-up silver sedan from 506 E. 19th St., that police said belonged to Pledger.

Police also stopped and questioned three men that they said may have been on their way to Rome from Polk County to seek revenge for the murder. The men were briefly detained Wednesday night in a black and white sedan on U.S. 27 south of Rome near Booger Hollow Road.