On a summer day in Atlanta, the life of 45-year-old Timothy Smith was tragically cut short. On June 1, 2020, police responded to a call in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and discovered his body under an overpass on the Baker-Highland Connector at Piedmont Avenue, a place he sometimes used for shelter. At first, the cause of his death was a mystery, but a closer examination by investigators revealed a fatal gunshot wound, and his case was officially classified as a homicide.
The death
of Timothy Smith marked the beginning of a string of violent acts against Atlanta's homeless community that would unfold over the next two weeks. He was the first of three homeless individuals to be shot and killed in the city during that time, sparking fear and a sense of urgency among law enforcement and the public. The subsequent victims were identified as Curtis Cockrell and Maxine McDonald, each found deceased in separate incidents.
The investigation into these connected killings led authorities to a single suspect. On June 19, 2020, police arrested 29-year-old David Lee in Gwinnett County. He was taken into custody and identified as the individual believed to be responsible for the shooting deaths of Timothy Smith, Curtis Cockrell, and Maxine McDonald. Following his arrest, Lee was held in police custody as the legal process against him began.
