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Second murder arrest made in Brookhaven suspected ‘drug activity’ shooting

Abel Ashmelash (Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)
Abel Ashmelash (Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)
By Ellen Eldridge
June 27, 2017

A 27-year-old Stone Mountain man is the second person charged with murder in the death of a Brookhaven man.

Abel Ashmelash was arrested Tuesday morning, Brookhaven police spokesman Carlos Nino said. Edward Tavarez was arrested June 13.

They are accused in the June 1 shooting death of Travis Ridley at Avana Uptown apartments off Clairmont Road.

Police previously said the incident was related to drug activity and investigators said Tavarez may have fired after Ridley pulled a gun.

Detectives did find a firearm at the scene they believe belonged to Ridley.

Ashmelash and Tavarez have been charged with murder and armed robbery. They remain in the DeKalb County jail.

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