In the early morning hours of December 26, 2015, the life of 15-year-old Preston Lewis was tragically cut short on the streets of southwest Atlanta. A student at Booker T. Washington High School, he was discovered around 4:45 a.m. at the intersection of Holderness and Greenwich streets after police received a 'person down' call. When officers arrived, they found the young man, a male, had sustained a single, fatal gunshot wound.
The days and weeks following Preston's death were filled
with grief and a search for answers. His friends and classmates remembered him as a fun-loving teenager and gathered for a vigil on Holderness Street to honor his memory. Meanwhile, investigators from the Atlanta Police Department worked to piece together the events that led to the shooting. Despite their efforts, which included canvassing the neighborhood, passing out flyers, and speaking with residents, the motive for the killing remained elusive, and initially, they had no suspects.
As the investigation continued, police identified a 'vehicle of interest' captured on surveillance video near the scene of the crime shortly before 5 a.m. on the day of the shooting. The car was described as a black Ford Mustang GT with significant damage to the rear passenger side. This vehicle was later found to have been reported stolen just six days prior to the murder. Despite this lead, and pleas to the public for information, no arrests were immediately made in connection with Preston Lewis's death, leaving his family and community awaiting justice.
