Gangs arent just a problem in the metro Atlanta area, however; its becoming a national issue. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Picture taken May 11, 2021. A father of two, Robbins was reported missing by his family in November. On Monday, an APD officer was attempting to arrest a man when he pulled out a gun and shot him several times. Willis told South Atlanta Magazine in 2021 that she was raised primarily by her father, a criminal defense attorney who was a member of the Black Panther Party, a Black power movement that began in the 1960s. znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr); "She's a pit bull in the courtroom," said Vincent Velazquez, a former Atlanta homicide detective who worked with Willis during her time as an assistant district attorney. He was advanced in his technique. FALLEN ANGEL- A rookie detective struggles to unravel the mystery of a teenager found naked and shot to death in a city park; the case captures the hearts of the public; when the victim's car is discovered miles away, the mystery deepens. Vince Velazquez is a former homicide detective who first began his career in the Air-force. "It was almost like he was tired of running.". Copyright 2021 Interactive One, LLC. McKibbins, who police say sometimes disguised himself as a woman, was on the FBI Top Ten Fugitive list until he was captured at an Atlanta gas station. And in the heart of Atlanta's wealthiest neighborhood, a man is brutally beaten and shot to death. In 2004, police were notified of a forensic match from DNA found in an East Point assault investigation. "She's a pit bull in the courtroom," said Vincent Velazquez, a former Atlanta homicide detective who worked with Willis during her time as an assistant district attorney. He has participated in over 500 death investigations, 300 negotiations and has been featured in various media outlets as an expert in his field. He was never charged or arrested for the crimes he's accused of. On April 20, 2016, Kenson Hunter . Some of the cases are really gut wrenching. He has worked at the AJC since 1998. 2016 - Present. Atlanta police say detectives said they believe they have identified the man responsible for the 1995 cold case rape and murder of Nacole Smith and a 2004 East Point sexual assault. Just like a computer, weve got to get to them early and reprogram their thinking.. An indictment of the former president would be of a different magnitude for a local prosecutor whose office typically focuses on violent crime and wrongdoing in the Atlanta area. In both instances, she employed an anti-racketeering law meant to break up organized crime. ATLANTA After an Atlanta police officer was shot Monday afternoon by a man police say is a known gang member, many community activists want to put an end to gang violence. Its a learned behavior. ", Sketch of suspect Kevin Arnold in the 1995 murder of Nacole Smith. I'm not OK with the situation on how long it took us to get here, but I'm happy that I'm finally here and that he's no longer out there able to do things that he did to me and Nacole to others.. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. So they waited until McKibbins and a student from Tuskegee University in Alabama pulled into a station to buy gas. (She worked with Quinn and Velazquez while at Fox 5 as a crime reporter and Fox's"America's Most Wanted" withJohn Walsh and linked the two up with Wide Net Productions to make the show happen.). "You give her an inch, she's going to take a foot.". Acquenellia Smith, Nacole Smiths mother, struggled to accept that closure was not going to come easy with her daughters killer also now dead. Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, while waging court battles to compel their testimony. 2 hours ago, @SABCNews })(); (function() { Though the shooting happened months ago in February, the case has recently started making nationwide headlines mostly due to the release of the video that shows the intense final moments of Arberys life. Youre in. Robbins' body parts were found Feb. 27 in plastic bags in a shallow grave on Constitution Road in southeast Atlanta. Retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velasquez, who re-opened the case in 2002, said the teenager was assaulted, raped, and shot twice in the face. Some defense attorneys have voiced concerned that Willis has strayed beyond the law's intended use and targeted speech protected by the U.S. Constitution. Detective Vincent Velasquez says the DNA from both attacks is identical. Thats when officers say Eppinger pulled out a gun and shot the veteran officer multiple times near an apartment building off of Old Hapeville Road. I never imagined that this person would be deceased. . "She will tell why she agrees or disagrees and will back off cases," Steel added. The incident occurred on November 9, 1991 at 600 Martin St where 11 year old Jeremiah Anderson was shot once in the back and died from that injury. 2 hours ago, @MSNBC Police did not release the names of the two suspects or the charges they faced. But they needed an ID to tie both the matching samples to. McKibbins and five associates were charged with killing Robbins, whom they accused of stealing a kilo of cocaine from their drug operation. He turned and glared at the victim's mother, grandmother, cousins and aunts, who were seated behind prosecutors. The nature of death has yet to be determined, but violent crime is likely the cause, Quigley said. They don't imitate us. Contact. A post shared by Vince Velazquez (@vincevelazquez) on May 7, 2020 at 7:45am PDT, A post shared by Vince Velazquez (@vincevelazquez) on May 7, 2020 at 7:50am PDT. Demeester said the GBI forensics lab told police just after Christmas that their person of interest match the DNA profile in the 1995 murder and 2004 rape. She cut through a nearby wooded area, where police say she was attacked. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. I get a little emotional, he said. It took about three years. Velazquez, a 52-year-old security consultant, is the Spock of the operation, more analytical and more apt to use technology to advance a case. "He gave the family a death stare.". She graduated from Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington that Vice President Kamala Harris also attended, and Emory University School of Law in Atlanta before working as a criminal defense and family law attorney in private practice. Narrator TVOne's True crime show "ATL Homicide". 1 hours ago, @AFP Join us in sending prayers for justice to Ahmaud and his family and tell us- what do you think of this case? 9 Students Sick After Ingesting Foreign Liquid At ATL School: Report, GA Salmonella Outbreak, Raw Oyster Recall + APS Offers Telehealth, Georgia Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Raw Oyster Recall, Online Event about our services in the Atlanta area, Mother Lode's Women's History Month Pop-Up. He would have people relay messages. Prosecutor says alleged murderer had a chilling message for his victim's kin in court. True crime stories are like kudzu on the TV screen with entire networks and production companies catering to the ceaselessly popular genre. Velazquez said they went to Knoxville, Tenn. where the re-enactments were shot and hung out with the actors. "And we stayed out in the woods (the night of Smiths death) digging holes looking for evidence all of that night. In both instances, she employed an anti-racketeering law meant to break up organized crime. The passionate and fearless officers discuss how they disclose first-hand accounts of real-life murder investigations on the show, which features dramatic recreations from actors Angelo Diaz as David Quinn and Christopher Diaz as Vince Velazquez. zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr); There was a suspect that seemed super obvious who wasnt the actual killer. We were able to obtain his DNA from another piece of evidence that we had as completely unrelated to these two cases.. "She wants to understand all the issues before making a decision," Brian Steel, a lawyer representing Young Thug, said of Willis. Someone assaulted a young girl in East Point, GA 13 years old exactly nine years and 13 days later. Some defense attorneys have voiced concerned that Willis has strayed beyond the law's intended use and targeted speech protected by the U.S. Constitution. Meet the Besties: Chelsea and Dejane | A Chelsea and Dejane are two southern belles looking for their own prince Charming! This case has not died, he said. This is our repertoire. The shooting happened at an apartment complex off Old Hapeville Road. Id say,Why are we being such [expletives] about this? Lewis said he was tracked to South Florida and to Alabama, and investigators staked out the homes of his mother and aunts as well as other relatives and acquaintances in metro Atlanta. "If you violated the law, you're going to be charged. He retired in 2017 after 22 years of services. In some cases, you have to hurt yourself to make sure you have the right guy. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events. With @Atlanta_Police Homicide Detective Vince Velasquez. Detective Vincent Velazquez Detective Michael Young Detective Brett Zimbrick More Bios DeKalb County, GA Detroit, MI Harris County, TX Kansas City, KS Kansas City, MO Louisville, KY Memphis, TN Miami, FL Mobile, AL New Orleans, LA Philadelphia, PA Rochester, NY San Antonio, TX Tucson, AZ Tulsa, OK Watch Episodes Without Signing In S1 E1 Knock Knock Law & Order briefs | FBI seeks suspect in dismemberment. Brian Mitchell. McKibbins, 33, a fugitive since 1999, was nabbed last week. Originally posted on Thursday, July 5, 20187 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.comon his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog. Vincent Velazquez said he thought the reason Robbins was beheaded and the rest of his body cut into nine parts "was more for transportation purposes" than to send a. She faces re-election next year. Vince and I banged our heads trying to get it right., ATL Homicide, Mondays at 10 p.m., TV One, starting July 9, 2018. Atlanta police homicide Detective Vincent Velazquez spoke about the investigation Thursday. Police said Arnold was experiencing kidney and liver failure and was in hospice care. Introducing LaTanya Butler, VP , To kick off the celebratory month, TV One would like to honor the trailblazing women that have truly paved . You dont want to make the wrong arrest., And since this is Hollywood, the actors who play Quinn and Velazquez (local residentAngelo Diaz and Christopher Diazrespectively, no relation) are"absolutely better looking than we are," Quinn said. Authorities also see a potential connection to a fourth victim. Contribute to this page Suggest an edit or add missing content Learn more about contributing More to explore Recently viewed Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Portions of the grand jury's report are expected to be publicly released on Thursday, though any recommendations on criminal charges will remain sealed for now. When a victim is killed in an ambush, Detectives Velazquez and Quinn must question if trouble followed her from the Bahamas. He ultimately believes that there is a conflict between the two pieces of evidence and that arrests should be made. Season 3 of ATL Homicide Returns to TV One January 25. "They're amazing, young hungry actors who wanted to get next to us to draw from our mannerisms and vocal inflections. That officer, an 11-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department, is now battling. July 9, 2018 - Present. At no point in this press conference have we uttered this suspects name, Woolfolk said. "There is an overuse and abuse of the statute," said Jay Abt, a Georgia criminal defense lawyer who represents witnesses in the election investigation and is defending indicted rapper Deamonte Kendrick, known as "Yak Gotti.". Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. That case really tested our mettle, he said. For me, being a retired law enforcement officer detective, to see an officer shot multiple times, clinging to life, its saddens me., [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. As a result of that, another profile was obtained, and we have a forensic match., This has been a part of my life that I have hidden for a while because I just did not want to live in that pain anymore, she said. Two retired Atlanta Police Department homicide detectives David Quinn and Vince Velazquez recount past criminal cases on camera as narrators while two actors play younger versions of. Categories. . Secrets & Lies: With David Quinn, Adam Lee III, Vincent Velazquez, Andre Lowe. Sketch of suspect Kevin Arnold in the 1995 murder of Nacole Smith. var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; ATLANTA, GA A 26-year-old Atlanta murder and rape cold case investigation is closed now thanks to genealogy and DNA profiling that connected the suspect to an East Point sexual assault nine. . He's one of the best detectives in the county. And we have been working this jointly with East Point Police.. Police identified a suspect in a 1995 cold case rape and murder. Quinn - a 53-year-old coach to younger APD detectives - describes himself as an old-school beat cop, capable of speaking just as comfortably with a homeless guy as he is with a CEO. Willis told a judge on Jan. 24 that a decision on whether to bring criminal charges was "imminent" after a special grand jury completed its work. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Police went to McKibbins son's football games and practices, hoping that the drug trafficker's love for his son would be his undoing. Retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velasquez, who re-opened the case in 2002, said the teenager was assaulted, raped, and shot twice in the face. The suspect, 49-year-old Kevin Arnold, died of liver and kidney failure while in hospice care in Aug. 2021 in Fulton County. The New York Times @nytimes 1 hours ago More than 100,000 people took to the streets in cities across Mexico on Sunday to protest new laws hobbling the nation's . Picture taken May 11, 2021. Quinn said hes more unfiltered, more off the cuff than Velazquez. He began a consulting company and has worked on crime shows such as "48 Hours" and "Dateline NBC." In 2004 we get a call, Velasquez said. For Nacole Smith's mother, knowing her daughter's suspected murderer was dead was bittersweet. Three were acquitted of murder, but one still faces kidnapping charges because a jury could not agree on guilt or innocence on that offense. Willis also has examined a scheme to appoint an alternate slate of electors in a bid to award Georgia's electoral votes to Trump, rather than Biden, ahead of congressional certification of the election results. King says he grew up around gangs and wants to do what he can to point young people away from them. She faces re-election next year. News. At the time of Nacole Smith's murder, Arnold would have been 23 years old. He said his program was designed to try to keep all of the young kids away from the gang activity, the street life., [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. Graphic video that showed the shooting of a Black man whose only apparent crime was jogging with brown skin in Georgia leaked on Tuesday in the latest chapter of the ongoing saga to bring his killers to justice. Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, while waging court battles to compel their testimony. "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=61944'; "She will tell why she agrees or disagrees and will back off cases," Steel added. Bruce Griggs is the Founder and Executive Director of Operation Correct Start of America, Inc. zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true; ATL Homicide - TV One Visit the post for more. It was a little odd because they were watching us interact, trying to soak it all in, he said. At the heart of the investigation is Trump's January 2021 call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asking him to "find" just enough votes to reverse his narrow loss in the pivotal state to Democrat Joe Biden. 3 hours ago. Neither of the McMichael men have been arrested. Ill never say it was closure for me because Ill live with this pain for the rest of my life, Smith said before retreating into sobs. Willis also has examined a scheme to appoint an alternate slate of electors in a bid to award Georgia's electoral votes to Trump, rather than Biden, ahead of congressional certification of the election results. School union boss on Williamson/Hancock WhatsApps: Arnold died in August 2021 in Fulton County, where both his accused crimes were committed. The move led to speculation she is building a case against Trump or his associates around Georgia's anti-organized crime law. 1 and pt. That trial is ongoing. To look at me his eyes and have him look at me and relive and to face me. Will they be successful?. But there wasnt enough evidence to file charges. McKibbins already was running from authorities when Robbins was kidnapped and killed. After turning down a super job in an airline company as an engineer, he opted to become a cop. Women Behind TV One 2023 | LaTanya Butle Join us throughout March, as we pull back the curtain to highlight our own! The 51-year-old Fulton County district attorney will need that kind of tenacity if she decides to bring criminal charges against Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. 2 hours ago, @timesofindia 5 Places To Swim In Atlanta A Swimming Activity Of Every Kind, The 5 Best Atlanta Facebook Groups To Follow ASAP. Three were acquitted of murder, but one of them still faces kidnapping charges because a jury could not agree on guilt or innocence on that offense, according to police. Its not shocking, and thats troubling, he told Channel 2s Michele Newell. In this case, the focus is on the murder of a single mom. He's one of the best detectives in the county. Police first thought of capturing him earlier in the night, but there were too many people around who could have been hurt or killed if there had been gunfire. Picture taken May 11, 2021. #ATLHomicide #DavidQuinn #VinceValazquez #AtlantaPD #TVOneVeteran Homicide Detectives David Quinn and Vince Velazquez of the Atlanta Police Department talk about their experiences and the third season of \"ATL Homicide\" on this episode of #SpecMagShorts. Kendrick was indicted by Willis alongside rapper Jeffery Lamar Williams, who performs as Young Thug, and other hip hop artists accused of involvement in street gangs. EXCLUSIVE: UGA star Jalen Carter present at scene of fatal crash, Police: Stetson Bennett hid behind brick wall prior to arrest, GHSA basketball state tournament: Quarterfinals updates from Wednesday, GSU forecaster: White-collar jobs at risk as Georgia slouches toward recession, Atlantas stitch transit project wins $1.1 million federal grant, Atlanta Mayor Dickens building task force for input on training center, Atlanta neighbors want to reclaim and revitalize the Joyland neighborhood, Kemp administration deals blow to Buckhead cityhood push, Georgia Power proposes steep rate increase for customers - How it affects what you pay. "He was very calm," Lewis said. Biden has threatened to veto the bill, which would repeal an investment policy that took effect earlier this year that Republicans call woke capitalism., Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks at a news conference in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., May 11, 2021. zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? One of those guys on the hit show ATL Homicide She graduated from Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington that Vice President Kamala Harris also attended, and Emory University School of Law in Atlanta before working as a criminal defense and family law attorney in private practice. Demeester said nationally-covered cases indicated a possible method of identifying Nacole Smith's killer: using genealogy to develop a person of interest. Atlanta Homicide Det. Im mad that I didn't get the opportunity to face him, she said. Robbins' head was buried in Fulton County, and the rest of him was buried in DeKalb County. A kid told me, he said, Mr. Two men were quickly held on murder charges in the killing, but a third man, Chaunson Lavel McKibbins, remained on the run for the next two years. He was presumed dead after his DNA from a toothbrush was matched with blood at the scene of a shooting that same month. Robbins, who police said was a member of McKibbins' drug operation, was reported missing by his wife in November 2001. Jurors convicted him in absentia and the judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison. A spokesperson for Willis did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Read More . cold case rape and murder of Nacole Smith, High-ranking gang members arrested in DeKalb County drug bust, police say, UGA football star Jalen Carter facing charges in fatal crash: What we know, FBI: Explosive found in bag at Pennsylvania airport, man arrested, Tornado Watch issued for portions of north Georgia, 100% of homicides solved over last 2 years in Cobb County, police say, Prominent Roswell restaurant owner charged with sexual crimes involving 2 minors, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Georgia man vanishes while on Louisiana business trip, Jalen Carter responds to charges connected to deadly UGA crash.