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DeKalb Police seek persons of interest in hate-motivated slaying of gay man

Dan Whisenhunt Jun 22, 2019

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Image of the suspects provided by DeKalb County Police.

DeKalb County police have identified three persons of interest in the hate-motivated murder of Ronald Peters, a gay man.

The June 4 murder occurred at 3444 Orchard Circle. Police responded to a call about a person shot around 8:25 a.m.

According to the police report, the suspects used homophobic language during the murder. According to the report, Peters was harassed over his sexuality a week before the crime.

“Mr. Joseph Davis responded to the incident location. He stated that he was the victim’s partner and that the victim’s name was Ronald Peters,” the police report says. “Mr. Peters was on his way to the MARTA station going to work. Mr. Davis also stated that there was an incident about one week ago that involved two black men harassing Mr. Peters calling him a faggot but didn’t think anything of it and never asked about it. The witness … stated that while the victim was walking down Orchard Circle, two black men came out of a truck and put a mask on and told the victim to ‘give me your bag faggot.’ The witness then stated one of the unidentified suspects shot the victim in the chest with a chrome pistol then proceeded to shoot him again in the neck after he was on the ground and took his bag.”

The suspects left the area in a maroon four-door truck, headed south towards Columbia Drive. A third suspect drove the vehicle. A person that lives in the area had a camera in his yard and said he would provide police the footage from the camera.

Police have provided these photos of the persons of interest in this case.