In the spring of 2018, the life of 28-year-old Brian William Cook of Villa Rica, Georgia, was violently cut short. On the evening of May 22nd, Cook was shot and killed on the second-floor landing of the Fairbridge Inn Express on Highway 61. He was a resident and employee of the hotel. The incident that led to his death began when he accompanied a 29-year-old man, Ramon Higgs, to room 205 of the motel.
While Cook waited outside, Higgs entered the room, where an altercation connected to a drug deal erupted. Surveillance footage captured Higgs fleeing the room with several men in pursuit. As Cook also tried to escape, he was grabbed by the pursuing men and shot. Higgs also sustained a gunshot wound but managed to get away from the scene. The hotel room was later discovered to contain drugs, measuring equipment, and counterfeit twenty-dollar bills.
The subsequent investigation led to murder charges against seven individuals. Among them was Ramon Higgs, who, after being treated for his injuries, was charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of marijuana. Four men who were inside room 205 were quickly apprehended: Khaaliq Sims, 24; Isiah Roberts, 20; Alvon Darby, 20; and Kyron Doby, 23. They all faced charges of murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Roberts also faced an additional charge for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Two other suspects who were in the room, 19-year-old Briahious McPherson and 19-year-old Ricardo Joiner, both from Villa Rica, initially evaded capture, and warrants were issued for their arrest on charges of murder and aggravated assault. The investigation also resulted in the arrests of two individuals in an adjacent room on drug and forgery charges after they were found with a large quantity of marijuana and counterfeit money.
