Crime & Safety

Atlanta Police Make Arrest in Grant Park Murder

One man is charged with murder in the July 26 shooting death of David McReynolds.

It was a case that left Grant Park rattled.

Not just because of the brazen manner in which David McReynolds was shot in the chest on Hill Street on July 26.

But because it seemed so senseless, random and heinously cruel to leave a man to die in the street on an otherwise ordinary Thursday afternoon.

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Monday, Atlanta police announced investigators have made an arrest in the case: Andre Juvell Byrd, 22, is charged with murder.

He was arrested Oct. 16, but it's not clear why police only made that public now.

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman told East Atlanta Patch Monday the case is still under investigation and no other information was immediately available.

Grant Park welcomed the news of the arrest as a positive first step.

"We're very happy APD is making progress and following up on all leads. To learn of an arrest is great news," Lauren Rocereta, president-elect of the Grant Park Neighborhood Association told Patch.

"All Grant Park neighbors, along with David McReynolds' loved ones, are eager for these criminals to be off the streets and for justice to be served."

Byrd, who remains in the Fulton County Jail, also faces nine other charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

McReynolds, 54 and a longtime Grant Park resident, was well-liked in the neighborhood.

A resident of Augusta Street, it is believed his killer or killers shot him to get a lottery ticket in which he may have won a small cash amount.

The death shocked the neighborhood, which rallied behind his family and friends by raising reward money, canvassing the streets and offering a billboard to keep the crime in the public consciousness.

Days after the shooting, police released a surveillance video of three men in a nearby store who were wanted for questioning in connection with the case.

It's not immediately clear if Byrd was one of the men seen in the video.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from East Atlanta