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Woman had plan to kill assault victim, investigators say
Kendrick Goss
Goss

According to warrants signed by investigators, a Gainesville woman had a “pre-arranged” plan to kill the victim in a Saturday assault.

Gainesville police responded at about 1:45 p.m. Saturday to a reported assault with shots fired at Lake Forrest Apartments, 1360 Otila Drive off Dawsonville Highway.

Lawana Cleveland, 25, was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and false imprisonment on Monday in the alleged attack on 30-year-old Taneka Haynes.

Cleveland allegedly tried to kill Haynes “by luring her to her apartment, dragging her to the bathroom, running water in the tub, holding her against her will with pre-arranged plans to kill her and did admit same,” the arrest warrant said.

A second suspect in the incident, Kendrick Deshawn Goss, 33, is charged with aggravated assault in shooting at the victim when she attempted to flee, according to the arrest warrant.

Cleveland and Goss both are charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Records indicate Haynes lived in the apartment with the two suspects.

According to court records, Cleveland had no prior convictions in Hall County while Goss carries a lengthy criminal record in the county.

His most recent run-in with the law was a guilty plea to obstruction of an officer in March.

He also had been accused of violence in the past, with charges of battery in 2010, 2009 and 2007.

Both suspects requested a public defender at their first appearance in court on Tuesday and are scheduled to have a committal hearing on Jan. 27 in Hall Magistrate Court.

The two are being held without bond in the Hall County Jail. A bond hearing for Goss has been set for Thursday.