Atlanta detectives hope a public appeal Friday will help find a good Samaritan who may unknowingly possess the missing link that will solve a double killing in Little Five Points.
Joseph Hruska, 33, and Chaitanyalila Kelsey, 32, were killed in March in the Vortex tavern parking lot. The shooting happened shortly after two people were robbed in the nearby Virginia Highland neighborhood, also known for its bars.
“We feel those robberies are linked to the homicides,” Det. Vince Velazquez said Friday.
Two people, including a juvenile, have been arrested for the robberies but detectives believe at least two other people are involved, Velazquez said. The cops hope a bandit confessed to a family member or friend, who may inform authorities.
At the moment, Velazquez and Det. Calvin Thomas hope to link the two people arrested for the robberies to the double killing. One of the robbery victims’ wallets was found by a man who turned it into a bartender at the North Highland Pub after finding an item in the wallet from the bar. The bartender returned it to the victim.
Valazquez and Thomas are asking the Good Samaritan to identify himself. They need his help.
Detectives hope the man can show them where he found the wallet so they can see if the arrested robbers were near enough to the Vortex to have tried to rob the two men who ended up dead, Velazquez said.
“What is important is where he found the wallet,” Velazquez said.
Police say they have no witnesses who saw the shooting, but an employee of the Vortex heard the shots.
The witness found the first man lying on the ground and called 911.
When officers arrived, they said they found the body of the second man about 30 feet away.
“There is an indication that one was running away when he was shot,” Velazquez said.“There was just no reason for it.”
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