In the late spring of 2020, a series of targeted attacks sent a wave of fear through Atlanta's homeless community. Among the victims was Maxine McDonald, a 60-year-old African American woman known for her kind and generous spirit. Those who knew her described her as a compassionate person who found joy in attending church and traveling. Her life was tragically cut short on June 15, 2020, when she was found shot at the intersection of Pryor Street SW and Rawson Street SW.
Maxine McDonald
was not the sole victim of this senseless violence. Her death was linked by the Atlanta Police Department to the murders of two other homeless individuals, Timothy Smith, 45, and Curtis Cockrell, 56. All three had been shot and left for dead in different locations around the city, prompting a significant investigation to find the person responsible for the string of killings. The nature of the crimes suggested a deliberate targeting of a vulnerable population, causing widespread concern and a demand for justice.
The investigation, aided by surveillance footage and witness testimonies, led to a breakthrough in the case. Law enforcement identified 29-year-old David Chris Arnold Lee as the primary suspect. A tip led police to Gwinnett County, where Lee was found walking in a shopping center parking lot and taken into custody without incident. He was subsequently charged with three counts of murder and three counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, bringing a measure of relief to a community that had been on edge. The arrest marked a pivotal moment in a case that highlighted the dangers faced by those living on the streets.
