Police have arrested 21-year-old Joshua Ellis in connection with the shooting death of Ronald “Trey” Peters, a 28-year-old gay social worker in Decatur, Georgia in early June.
Project Q reports: “Atlanta police arrested Ellis at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on June 6. He’s being held on three charges – aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault and armed robbery – from an unrelated case, according to jail records. DeKalb police have also issued arrest warrants for a second suspect in Peters’ death. That suspect hasn’t been caught, Spencer said.”
Peters was shot multiple times and killed on his way to work by two men who demanded his bag and used a homophobic slur. The shooting has been labeled hate-motivated.
The AJC reported: ‘The fatal shooting happened about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Peters was on his way to the MARTA station before work, his partner told police. Multiple witnesses said that as Peters walked down the roadway, two men got out of a truck and put on masks, the report said. The men told Peters to hand over his bag, a witness said. The incident report indicates one of the men then called Peters an anti-gay slur. “The witness then stated one of the unidentified suspects shot the victim in the chest with a chrome pistol, then proceeded to shoot him again in the neck after he was on the ground and took his bag,” the incident report said.’
According to a witness, the gunman said “Give me your bag, faggot.”
The AJC added: ‘Peters’ partner told police that an incident involving two men using the same slur against Peters had occurred one week prior. His partner said he “didn’t think anything of it and never asked about it,” the incident report said. The AJC was not immediately able to contact Peters’ partner.’
