A second suspect was arrested Thursday in the death of a veteran shot during a carjacking in southwest Atlanta.
Jacquez Barnes, 20, is facing a murder charge in the Nov. 2 death of 45-year-old Renae Alexander, a mother of three described by her sons as a Navy vet. Officers had previously arrested Shakiyah Jones, 19, on the same charge.
Two other suspects remain at large, Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. John Chafee said Friday.
Alexander was in the line of fire when someone started shooting outside an apartment complex on Fulton Street in the Mechanicsville neighborhood. According to a police report, the gunman was aiming at another woman who was trying to escape a carjacking.
The woman told investigators the man approached her Chevrolet Camaro with a long handgun and told her to “get out.” She immediately reversed her vehicle, backing into Alexander’s Chevrolet Malibu, police said in the report.
“At that time, the gunman and his partner open fire towards (the woman),” the report said. “In the line of the gunshots was Renae Alexander.”
Alexander, who was driving the Malibu, was shot in the side and leg. Hearing the shots, several bystanders attempted to come to her aid, according to police. One man was shot in the leg when he rushed out of the apartment complex breezeway.
The man survived, but Alexander later died at Grady Memorial Hospital. Detectives initially said she was shot when the suspects tried to take her Malibu, but they have gathered additional information as the investigation progressed, Chafee said.
The other woman’s Camaro was stolen and later recovered.
Both Barnes and Jones are being held in the Fulton County Jail. Bond was denied for Jones and has not been determined for Barnes. He was scheduled for a first appearance Friday, according to officials.
Anyone with information on the remaining two suspects is asked to come forward. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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