In the pre-dawn quiet of a Tuesday morning in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Senior Correctional Officer Scott Riner, a 59-year-old male, arrived for his shift at the Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Complex, a place he had worked for over a decade. It was December 13, 2022, and he was about 40 minutes early for his 7 a.m. start time. As he prepared to exit his vehicle in the employee parking lot, a figure approached the passenger side.
An interaction, the details of which remain known only to those present, escalated with shocking speed. Riner was shot and then, after falling to the ground, was shot again by his assailant, who then fled the scene on foot. His body was later discovered lying near his vehicle.
The Gwinnett Police Homicide Unit, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, the ATF, and the Gwinnett County Sheriff's and District Attorney's Offices, launched an intensive investigation. With no known witnesses to the shooting, detectives released surveillance images of the suspect to the public in the hopes of generating leads. The diligent, around-the-clock work of law enforcement paid off. Through their investigative efforts, they were able to identify a suspect.
Three days after the shooting, on Friday, December 16, 2022, the Gwinnett County SWAT Team apprehended 22-year-old Yahya Abdulkadir in Lithonia, Georgia. The arrest was made without incident. Abdulkadir, a resident of Dacula, was initially charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. A Gwinnett County grand jury later indicted him on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Investigators have not released a motive for the killing and have stated that it does not appear Riner and Abdulkadir knew each other.
Hundreds gathered to remember Scott Riner at his funeral, where he was described as a devoted family man with a great sense of humor, who was well-liked by both his colleagues and the inmates he supervised. He was a husband of 22 years, a father, and a grandfather. Before his career in corrections, he had worked in sales and marketing, but he found his calling in a job where he felt he could help people. Former inmates spoke of the positive impact he had on their lives. In May 2023, Officer Scott Riner was posthumously inducted into Gwinnett County's Fallen Heroes Memorial, a tribute to his dedicated service and the ultimate sacrifice he made.
