EATONTON, Ga. — Right now, three people are in jail, charged for a Eatonton Waffle House shooting from late October.
Two hours later, another shooting happened at a Waffle House in Milledgeville. 13WMAZ first reported on the shootings when they happened a little over a month ago.
According to Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell, a 16-year-old from Greene County, a 17-year-old from Greensboro and a 20-year-old from Milledgeville have all been charged related to the shooting.
Howell says outsiders like them "bring the troubles here."
He says he's staying on top of it and the community plays a role too.
"I work with the local sheriff's office very well," Cardwell said. "Myself and Sheriff [Howard] Sills work together good. I feel like we have a united force."
Right now, Cardwell says he issued 20 warrants related to the shooting, including one for a juvenile. Cardwell says because the Waffle House is open 24 hours, large groups of people are more likely to gather there.
"Crowd gathers there and tempers flared. A few starting in Baldwin, a few starting in Green County and they all end up over here for whatever reason," Cardwell said. "I don't know, parties, basketball games, anything you know, gets the crowd together."
Julia Bullard was born and raised in Eatonton. She says Eatonton is quiet and she likes the small-town living. While she lives 13 miles outside of Eatonton, she says hearing that Cardwell is working to keep crime out is reassuring.
"Now it's coming up to Christmas and you never know. It's happening in the large cities and it's happening in the smaller one," Bullard said. "People watch old people, they snatch their checks, they snatch purses and stuff so I think it's a great idea to keep crime out."
Cardwell says he'll keep working to keep the bad influences out.
"We're gonna keep at it no matter what time, day or night. You know, I'm coming out and I'm helping - everybody's working together," Cardwell said.
No one was hurt in the October Waffle House shooting in Eatonton. On the same night, one man was wounded in front of the Waffle House in Milledgeville. Law enforcement investigators believe the two cases are connected.