In the late hours of a Tuesday night in Decatur, Georgia, tragedy struck, leaving a family to grieve and a community in search of answers. On October 24, 2023, 53-year-old Perry Riley, a resident of Atlanta, was fatally shot inside an apartment complex on Atlanta Avenue. The incident unfolded just before midnight, prompting a swift response from Decatur police who found Riley suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital, but tragically, his injuries proved to be fatal, marking the city's first homicide of the year.
In the aftermath of the shooting, investigators quickly identified a suspect: 41-year-old David Denson, also from Atlanta. Law enforcement officials released surveillance photos of Denson, taken inside the apartment building, to the public in an appeal for assistance in locating him. A warrant for murder was issued for Denson's arrest, and he was named as the sole suspect in Riley's death. While authorities actively sought information on Denson's whereabouts, they did not immediately release details regarding a possible motive or the nature of the connection, if any, between Denson and Riley.
The family of Perry Riley, faced with the sudden and violent loss of their loved one, started a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses. His sister, Phyllis Drummer, organized the fundraiser. Public records show that a graveside service was held for Perry Riley on November 16, 2023, at Lakeside Memorial Gardens in Palmetto, following a public viewing the day before. The case drew attention from local news outlets, who reported on the ongoing search for the suspect and the community's hope for justice.
