In the predawn hours of Labor Day, September 5, 2022, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace in the parking lot of Jack's Bar & Grille in Hartwell, Georgia. When the chaos subsided, two men lay dead, their lives tragically cut short. One of the victims was 39-year-old Roberius Meqwan Thornton, a resident of Hartwell. The other man killed in the shooting was identified as 25-year-old Joseph Tyrone Johnson of Bowman.
The violent encounter also left at least two other individuals wounded and several vehicles in the parking lot riddled with bullet holes. In the days following the incident, Jack's Bar & Grille ceased operations.
The Hartwell Police Department, in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, launched a double-homicide investigation. However, the case has proven to be a difficult one to solve. Hartwell Police Chief Anthony Davis has publicly stated that the investigation has reached a standstill, with no new leads or information coming in. He has described the case as having gone 'completely cold,' a rarity in his 35-year career in law enforcement. Investigators have lamented the reluctance of potential witnesses to come forward with information, hindering their progress in identifying those responsible for the deaths of Thornton and Johnson.
As of the one-year and two-year anniversaries of the shooting, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. Law enforcement officials have made repeated pleas to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact the Hartwell Police Department or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the GBI's website or mobile app.
The family of Roberius Thornton continues to seek answers and closure. His wife, Crystal Thornton, has held events to honor his memory and to keep the public's attention on the unsolved case. She, along with investigators, hopes that someone will eventually come forward with the key piece of information that will lead to an arrest and bring justice for her husband and Joseph Tyrone Johnson.
