In a quiet subdivision in Lithonia, Georgia, the life of 20-year-old Arlanders Cole Jr. was tragically cut short on the afternoon of November 9, 2023. Responding to reports of a person shot, DeKalb County police discovered Cole's body near the neighborhood clubhouse on Bear Mountain Street, where he was a resident. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. This violent end came after Cole had already survived a previous attempt on his life earlier that year. On July 21, he was shot four times in the back while visiting a friend, an incident that necessitated numerous surgeries, including two to repair his heart.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, investigators began to piece together the events of that Thursday afternoon. Police have stated their belief that this was not a random act of violence and that Arlanders Cole Jr. was acquainted with his assailants. This assertion was supported by a widely circulated home security video that captured two men running from the vicinity of the shooting. The footage also recorded the sound of several gunshots. In the video, the two men can be heard yelling to one another as they flee the scene.
Despite the existence of the security footage and the belief that the victim knew his attackers, law enforcement has not publicly identified any suspects in the case. While authorities have confirmed they are pursuing multiple leads, no arrests have been announced in connection with the murder of Arlanders Cole Jr. The investigation into his death remains ongoing, leaving a community to mourn and a family to await justice.
