In the winter of 2014, a residence on Richmond Avenue in southeast Atlanta became the scene of a tragic and violent event that claimed the life of 51-year-old Ricky Whitlock and two other individuals. On November 29th, gunfire erupted inside the home, resulting in a triple homicide that left the community in shock and investigators with a complex case to unravel. Alongside Whitlock, Marcus Gay, aged 43, and 19-year-old Joshua Barkley also lost their lives in the shooting. Barkley was reportedly at the house visiting his father when the fatal incident occurred. Two other people were also injured during the violent encounter.
In the immediate aftermath, the Atlanta Police Department launched an intensive investigation into the triple homicide. In an effort to generate leads from the public, authorities released sketches of two men who were wanted in connection with the murders in 2015. Despite this, the case grew cold as the initial investigation did not lead to any arrests. The identities of the two men depicted in the sketches remain unknown, and they are still being sought by law enforcement.
Years after the shooting, the case of Ricky Whitlock, Marcus Gay, and Joshua Barkley remains an active and unsolved investigation. In a renewed push to bring the perpetrators to justice, Crime Stoppers Atlanta increased the reward for information leading to an arrest. What began as a $2,000 reward was significantly raised to $15,000 in the hopes of incentivizing individuals with knowledge of the crime to come forward. Investigators and the families of the victims continue to seek answers and hope that the increased reward will finally yield the breakthrough needed to solve this enduring cold case.
