In the early hours of April 19, 2022, a welfare check at the InTown Suites on Stone Mountain Highway in Lilburn, Georgia, led to the discovery of a grim scene. Inside one of the rooms, police found 30-year-old Denzel Romanie, an African American male, deceased. The Gwinnett County Police Department had been called to the extended-stay hotel at approximately 1:45 a.m. to check on Romanie's well-being. Upon their arrival, they found him with a fatal gunshot wound.
The medical examiner was summoned to the scene and confirmed that a gunshot wound was the cause of death, prompting an immediate homicide investigation. Gwinnett County Homicide Detectives began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to Romanie's death. They spent the day processing the scene for evidence, speaking with potential witnesses, and interviewing individuals who may have been associated with Romanie. Their investigation quickly led them to a person of interest.
By the end of the day, detectives had gathered enough probable cause to secure warrants for the arrest of 23-year-old Tariq Strickland, also from Lilburn. The charges against Strickland were severe: aggravated assault, felony murder, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Despite the charges being filed, a motive for the shooting had not been determined by investigators.
In the wake of the charges, the Gwinnett County Police Department issued a public appeal for any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Tariq Strickland, who remained at large. The case drew attention from local media outlets as the search for the suspect continued. As of the latest available information, the investigation into the death of Denzel Romanie is still considered active, with authorities continuing to seek leads for the apprehension of the suspect.
