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Third suspect in hate-motivated shooting of gay man has been arrested

Crime and public safety Decatur Metro ATL Trending

Third suspect in hate-motivated shooting of gay man has been arrested

Image of the suspects provided by DeKalb County Police.
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The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a third suspect in the June 4 murder of Ronald Trey Peters has been arrested.

“Lithonia, Georgia resident 19 year-old Tyreese T. Johnson, was arrested in Lithonia on July 31, 2019 for Felony Murder and Armed Robbery. Mr. Johnson is accused of shooting Mr. Peters and causing his death and taking property that belonged to the victim,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Mr. Johnson is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail.”

The other suspects are Shaleeya Moore and Joshua Ellis.

Moore is currently in the DeKalb County Jail. Records show Moore was arrested on July 27. Ellis, is in the Clayton County Jail on unrelated charges.

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.”