by Robin Kemp

Three women have been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal road rage shooting on Old Dixie Road July 30.

Regina Carswell, 21, of College Park, was denied bond on malice murder and evidence tampering at her first appearance Aug. 8. She has a preliminary hearing scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 31 in Room 202 before Judge West and a bond hearing set for 8 a.m. Sept. 4 in the same location.

An additional warrant on one charge of aggravated assault was issued Aug. 11. Regina Carswell will make first appearance on that charge Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. in Magistrate Court.

Also charged in the case are her sister, Shaniqua Carswell, 24, of Hampton, who faces one count of hindering the apprehension or punishment of a criminal, and Katesha Pierce, 26, of Forest Park, who is charged with felony evidence tampering and hindering the apprehension or punishment of a criminal. Their bond also was denied on Aug. 8 and their next preliminary hearing set for 8 a.m. Aug. 31 in Room 202, the same time as Regina Carswell’s.

According to Clayton County Police, the women were in a black Dodge Journey at Tara Boulevard and Old Dixie Road around 4 p.m. July 30 when they almost hit one of two other vehicles that were traveling together. People in the three vehicles began arguing with each other as they drove north on Old Dixie.

Witnesses told police all three vehicles had pulled out of the Arrowhead Shopping Center on Tara Boulevard.

When they stopped for a light at Frontage Road, police say, the victim, Mary Lorraine Riden, 35, of Atlanta got out of the vehicle she was riding in and approached the passenger side of the Dodge Journey. A fight ensued, Riden was shot dead at the scene, and the Dodge Journey drove off. Police said the Journey had a temporary tag in the back window.

Thanks to an anonymous tip, CCPD says it found the Dodge Journey at the Laurel Pointe Apartments, 228 Morrow Road in Forest Park, on Aug. 6. Investigators discovered that the Journey was registered to Pierce and that she allegedly had been driving during the incident. After interviewing Pierce, CCPD said, the Carswell sisters were arrested Aug. 7.

Police say that both sisters had been in the car and allege that Regina Carswell was the person who shot Riden.