CLARKSTON, Ga. — Detectives are hoping a pair of distinctive sneakers and a dog tag chain can help identify a man killed last month.
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The investigation began shortly after midnight on Jan. 30, when DeKalb County firefighters responded to a brush fire between the Ellis and Silver Oaks apartment complexes on Brockett Road.
After distinguishing the fire, they found a man’s body in the fire. Police said it appeared the man had been shot to death before the fire.
The victim is described as a Black male, between 17 and 25 years old. He’s five feet tall and weighs 95 to 100 pounds.
Clarkston police say the victim has distinctive features, including a chipped front tooth, pierced ears with diamond studs and a pierced nose with a gold stud.
The victim was found wearing Jordan 9 Retro black and olive sneakers, a dog tag chain inscribed with the Bible verse Joshua 9:1, black and gold rectangular sunglasses and a clear beaded bracelet.
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Police arrested Brian Rice, Tahj George Rankine and a third suspect for murder and concealing death charges. Police aren’t releasing the third suspect’s name since he is a minor. They took the trio into custody following a chase in DeKalb County.
The chase ended on Panola Road. NewsChopper 2 flew over the scene and spotted the damage to multiple vehicles.
Police said they have not been able to identify the victim because of the burns on his body.
“Right now we’re waiting on someone to report a loved one missing. That way we could do DNA testing and other testing and we can identify this person,” Sgt. Andrew Walker told Channel 2′s Tom Jones.
Officers are asking anyone who has a loved one that they’re accustomed to being in contact with and they haven’t heard from them recently to give Det. Greg Feltman a call at 678-431-1472.
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