In the autumn of 2020, the life of 44-year-old Harold Roberson, an African American male, was cut short in what authorities believe was an armed robbery gone wrong. On the evening of October 20, 2020, on Concepts 21 Circle near Austell, Georgia, a violent encounter unfolded that would leave Roberson dead from gunshot wounds. Investigators determined that the motive behind the fatal shooting was the theft of large quantities of marijuana and cash.
The investigation into Roberson's death led law enforcement to identify two suspects in the case. The first arrest came nearly six months after the incident. In April 2021, Joshua Elisha Sams, then 22 years old, was taken into custody and charged with murder and armed robbery for his alleged involvement in the events of that October night. Sams, a resident of Villa Rica, was later released on a bond of $137,700.
The second suspect, Varnell Davontez Sanders, remained at large for a longer period. An arrest warrant for Sanders was issued in January 2022. A collaborative effort between the Cobb County Sheriff's Fugitive Unit, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Douglas County Sheriff's Fugitive Unit led to his apprehension without incident later that same month. Sanders was subsequently booked into the Cobb County jail and held without bond. Both he and Sams face a string of serious charges, including murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
