A 21-year-old man was found shot dead at an apartment complex outside Norcross on Friday morning after a family member asked police to check on him.
The victim’s family, who lives in Mexico, heard what they thought was a gunshot while they were on the phone with him Thursday, a relative told Channel 2 Action News. His body was not discovered until shortly before 7 a.m. Friday inside his ground-floor apartment on Coleville Circle.
Detectives combed the Oakwood Vista apartment complex Friday morning for witnesses to the shooting. After a preliminary investigation, they determined his death a homicide, according to Gwinnett County police.
His name has not been released.
When officers first arrived on scene, they found the patio door to his apartment shattered. The victim was found in a bathroom.
Police think someone broke into the apartment before the shooting.
“We believe that the method of entry is probably going to be the balcony door,” police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera told Channel 2 from the scene. “Because it is a ground-level apartment, it would be very easy for somebody to just jump over the railing to make entry into the apartment.”
Detectives have not been able to corroborate that the victim was on the phone when he was shot, she said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwinnett County detectives at 770-513-5300. 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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