In the early morning hours of July 24, 2026, the tranquility of Constitution Lakes Park in DeKalb County, Georgia, was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Responding to a shots-fired call around 5:50 a.m., DeKalb County police officers arrived at the park, located just outside of Atlanta. In the parking lot near the popular Doll's Head Trail, they made a grim discovery. Two young men were found deceased outside of a vehicle, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The victims were later identified as 23-year-old Tomas Pascual Cano and 27-year-old Andres Pedro Baltazar. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office officially ruled both deaths as homicides. Reports later surfaced that both victims were of Guatemalan origin.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led to a significant development. Within days of the discovery, the DeKalb County Police Department announced the arrest of a 15-year-old male suspect. Due to his status as a minor, the authorities did not release the teenager's name to the public. The adolescent suspect is facing serious charges, including two counts of malice murder, possession of a pistol by a minor, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The community was left grappling with the violent act and the young age of the alleged perpetrator.
Despite the arrest, many questions surrounding the case remain unanswered. Investigators have not publicly disclosed a potential motive for the killings. It is also not clear if there was any prior relationship or connection between the teenage suspect and the two victims, Tomas Pascual Cano and Andres Pedro Baltazar. The families of the victims, who were reportedly coworkers, were left to mourn their sudden and violent loss, while also seeking justice. As the case moves through the juvenile justice system, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic event in the otherwise peaceful park. The case is a stark reminder of the impact of gun violence, leaving a community in shock and two families heartbroken.
