On a Wednesday afternoon in Marietta, Georgia, 22-year-old Tomas Arriola was fatally shot on February 18, 2015, during a robbery. He was accompanying his father, Tomas Arriola Sr., who was working as a taxi driver. The young man was described as being mentally challenged, with the mind of a 10-year-old, and was known for his friendly and helpful nature.
The incident unfolded after the Arriolas picked up two male passengers who requested a ride to the St. Augustine apartments.
Upon reaching the destination, the two passengers brandished a handgun and robbed the father and son. During the course of the robbery, one of the assailants shot the younger Arriola. After the suspects fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money, Arriola Sr. drove his wounded son to a nearby convenience store to seek help. From there, Tomas Arriola was transported to Kennestone Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the homicide led Marietta police to identify two suspects: Abdul Malik Griffin, 20, and James Lee Black, 19. Griffin was apprehended on March 2 in Powder Springs by the Cobb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was charged with murder, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Information provided by Griffin, along with witness statements, identified Black as his accomplice and the alleged gunman.
Following an intense search, James Lee Black was arrested on April 4 in Buffalo, New York, by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cobb County Sheriff's Office. Distinctive tattoos of the words 'New' on his right hand and 'York' on his left aided in his identification. Black faced charges of murder, two counts of armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was subsequently extradited to Georgia to face the charges. Investigators believe the duo was responsible for another similar taxi robbery that occurred within hours of the murder of Tomas Arriola, noting they wore the same distinctive clothing in both incidents.
