In the early morning hours of February 4, 2023, the vibrant Atlanta nightlife scene was struck by tragedy with the death of Michael Gidewon, a 50-year-old man who had emigrated from Eritrea in East Africa. Gidewon, a husband and father of four, was found with at least one gunshot wound just before 7 a.m. outside the Republic Lounge on Brady Avenue, a popular establishment he co-owned with his brother, Alex. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
For 35 years, the Gidewon brothers had been influential figures in the city's entertainment landscape, working their way up from valets to owning some of Atlanta's most popular clubs, including Vision and Compound.
The fatal encounter reportedly began after a patron was asked to leave the Republic Lounge for being overly intoxicated. That individual, later identified by police as 39-year-old Jonathan David Soto, allegedly did not leave the area. Instead, it is believed he waited in the parking lot for Gidewon to emerge from the club. When Gidewon came outside, he was shot. Chaos ensued as witnesses called 911; one caller reported seeing the suspect standing over Gidewon with a gun before walking away toward Howell Mill Road, while another was able to capture video of the fleeing suspect.
Within days of the shooting, the Atlanta Police Department publicly identified Jonathan David Soto as the suspect in the murder of Michael Gidewon. The relationship between the two men was revealed to be more complex than a random encounter. While initial reports described Soto as a disgruntled customer, later information suggested he was a promoter who had worked for Gidewon and had been known by the Gidewon family for two decades. Despite being identified, Soto remained at large.
In the wake of his brother's death, Alex Gidewon announced the permanent closure of the Republic Lounge. The family, devastated by the loss of a man described as a kind and gentle community figure, pleaded for justice. They offered a substantial reward for any information leading to Jonathan Soto's capture, initially set at $100,000 before being increased to $250,000. As of the summer of 2024, more than a year after the shooting, Jonathan Soto is still wanted by authorities for the homicide of Michael Gidewon and has been added to the Atlanta Police Department's most wanted list.
