Man charged with killing near DeKalb middle school, park

DeKalb County authorities have arrested a man after a body was found in a parking lot of a public park near a middle school.

Shelton Ragland, 26, of Decatur is accused of murder in the death of Kenneth Adair, 28, of Louisville, Tennessee, police confirmed Friday. Adair was found facedown around 2 a.m. on June 11 in a parking lot at Mark Trail Park across the street from McNair Middle, according to a police report.

Exact details haven’t been released, but police allege robbery was the motive in the killing.

A police officer found the unusual scene off Tilson Road while driving by, the report said.

The victim, who apparently had been shot in the head, wasn’t wearing pants, and none could be found nearby, police said.

While officers were looking over the scene, they found a man sleeping on a bench some 50 yards from the victim. He was questioned and wasn’t charged with the shooting, but was accused of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Police also found shell casings, which appeared to be from a 9mm handgun.

Ragland remains in the county jail without bond since his arrest Thursday afternoon.

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In other news:

DeKalb County fire officials had to rescue a Brookhaven family from their own home Tuesday.

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