🌱 Shooting Near Gwinnett Co. Restaurant + Gene Therapy For Dacula Man

Hello, friends. It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Dacula Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy with periods of sun. High: 65 Low: 46.

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Here are the top three stories in Dacula today:

1. Two men were shot, one fatally, near a restaurant on Indian Trail Road in Gwinnett County. One victim, identified as 22-year-old Jerrett Mitchell, was pronounced dead at the scene; the second victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries. Authorities are currently searching for two men they believe to be suspects, and the motive at the time of this article is unknown. (WSB-TV)
2. Sickle cell disease patient Jimi Olaghere of Dacula shared his story of undergoing gene therapy to treat his disease. This Nobel Prize-winning gene therapy technique will be reviewed by regulators this year, and Olaghere was one of the first participants in the trial. Olaghere states he feels like he has been cured, but notes that there is a long road ahead as he and the other patients' health will be tracked for the next 15 years to determine side effects and effectiveness. (The Washington Post)
3. Chelsey Abel of Dacula has signed on to play volleyball at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Abel is a 6-1 middle blocker transferring from Kennesaw State. As a Dacula High School Falcon, Abel played volleyball and basketball and was a four-year letter winner. SIUE Volleyball Head Coach Kendall Paulus described Abel as a great teammate who loves the game. (SIUE Cougars Official Athletic Site)

Today in and around Dacula:

• Fireside S'mores At Inn At Chateau, Braselton (5:00 PM)
• Mocha Monday At TradeWind Coffee Co. (6:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Georgia Gwinnett College is offering a great opportunity to study abroad in Mexico City this summer. If you're a Grizzly, learn more because spots are filling up fast! (Georgia Gwinnett College via Instagram)
• Congratulations to the Dacula High School Falcons baseball team for making program history as the first varsity team to move onto the Elite 8 of the State Playoffs! The team will play next week at Parkview High School. (Dacula High School via Facebook)
• Efrén C. Olivares, the Deputy Legal Director of the Immigrant Justice Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, will speak virtually about his newest book "My Boy Will Die of Sorrow." Olivarez's book details the immigrant experience and its effect on families. Registration is required for this event. (Gwinnett County Public Library via Instagram)

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• BINGO-Family Fun Night (May 1)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.