A Pickens County man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the deadly attack on a 45-year-old man at a Cherokee County sports bar last weekend.
Leon Danzis was pronounced dead at Northside-Cherokee Hospital on Friday night following a fight at the Canton Icehouse. According to Canton police, surveillance footage from the sports bar shows that Danzis was involved in a brief conversation with at least one other person before a group formed and punches were thrown.
Gary Matthew Allen, 31, of Jasper, is facing charges of felony murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery. According to Canton police, investigators do not believe any weapons were used in the brawl.
The arrest comes one day after police asked for the public’s help to identify a possible witness. They released a photo of a man Tuesday morning, and by the day’s end they had identified him.
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Police spokesman Officer Pacer Cordry said investigators wanted to be thorough before pursuing charges against Allen. They were having a hard time tracking down those involved in the fight.
No further details are being released, he said. It is not known if Allen and Danzis knew each other, or if Danzis was the victim of a random act of violence.
An autopsy was performed Monday, but Cordry said Wednesday the results are not being made public. Investigators were told Danzis, who is from Hoschton, was a construction worker staying in a hotel while he worked a job.
Allen was being held in the Cherokee County jail. His bond has not been determined.
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