In the spring of 2013, a brazen and violent attack in broad daylight claimed the life of 57-year-old Ronald Eugene Clark, a Caucasian male from Sandy Springs. On the afternoon of April 26th, Clark, a local business owner, was ambushed in his work van on Marietta Boulevard in northwest Atlanta. The assault occurred shortly after he had cashed a payroll check at a nearby store.
Unbeknownst to Clark, at least one individual had concealed himself in the back of his vehicle, lying in wait.
As Clark drove, the assailant emerged and brutally attacked him with a hammer. Investigators believe that Clark, a man described by friends as kind and free-hearted, fought back against his attacker. During the struggle, the assailant pulled out a gun and shot Clark in the abdomen. The suspect then fled the van, leaving behind both the hammer and the firearm, and escaped in a waiting vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing a man get into a black Jeep Cherokee, possibly a 2008 to 2010 Limited Edition model, which then sped away. The Jeep had a white cloth obscuring its license plate. Emergency responders found Clark near his van and transported him to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Atlanta Police Department launched a homicide investigation, believing the motive for the attack was robbery. Detectives theorized that the perpetrators had inside knowledge, as only Clark's employees would have known he was cashing a large check that day. Surveillance footage from a nearby business and a passing MARTA bus captured images of the suspects and their getaway vehicle. Police identified three suspects they believe were involved in the fatal robbery. Despite having DNA evidence from the recovered weapons and video footage, the case remains unsolved. Ronald Clark's family has made public pleas for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for his death. The Atlanta Police Department continues to list the case among its cold homicides and encourages anyone with information to come forward.
