In the early morning hours of February 11, 2021, the life of 19-year-old Jerry Salazar was tragically cut short in a spray of bullets inside an apartment in Sandy Springs, Georgia. A Hispanic male, Salazar was at the Eva Apartments on Hammond Drive when the violent encounter unfolded around 2 a.m. He was not the only victim that night; 20-year-old Ariel Collazo of Norcross also lost his life, and a third individual was wounded but survived the attack.
The two deceased were known to be friends.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly gained momentum as Sandy Springs police detectives worked tirelessly to identify those responsible. They determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather that the individuals involved were acquainted with each other. Within days, their efforts led them to their first suspect, 25-year-old Jesus Alvarez de la Rosa of Atlanta. With the assistance of the Gordon County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia State Patrol, and the Calhoun Police Department, de la Rosa was apprehended in Calhoun. He was subsequently charged with a litany of offenses, including murder, home invasion, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The pursuit of justice did not end with de la Rosa's capture. The ongoing investigation identified two additional suspects in connection with the fatal shooting. On February 22, 2021, Sandy Springs police arrested 40-year-old Ge Vang and 19-year-old Mushfiq Ali Nafi. Both men were charged with two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault with intent to murder, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and conspiracy to purchase marijuana with the intent to distribute. Following their arrests, Vang and Nafi were transported to the Fulton County Jail to await trial.
