Lithonia Man Arrested In 2017 Murder Cold Case: Sheriff

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — Authorities made an arrest in relation to a January 2017 murder case in which a man was shot in his home. Damon Hamilton, 31, who authorities say is a member of a street gang, is facing charges related to the murder.

On Jan. 13, 2017, around 12:40 a.m., Paulding deputies arrived at 553 Crestbend Lane in Powder Springs on a shooting and burglary call.

They discovered that Mark Phillips, 34, arrived home with his wife and kids soon earlier. When they got into the foyer, multiple men who were inside waiting for him attacked.

Police say Phillips was shot to death before the suspects ran away. None of the other family members were hurt, police say.

Detectives investigated, but the case went cold.

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Then, over two years later, a combined investigation between the Paulding County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), new leads developed.

It took an "exhaustive amount of hours and diligent investigative work" to secure an arrest warrant on Aug. 12, 2019, for Hamilton, of Lithonia. Authorities say Hamilton is a confirmed member of a street gang.

Authorities arrested Hamilton in Forest Park. He was taken to the Paulding County Jail where he's being held on four charges without bond:

• felony murder
• felony aggravated assault
• felony burglary
• felony violation of the Georgia Gang Act

"I am pleased that our Detectives and GBI Agents have not given up on this case. We will continue our investigation into this incident and we expect more arrests in the future," Sheriff Gary Gulledge said in the release. "I hope that Mrs. Phillips will have some closure knowing that one of the men responsible for her husband’s death is in jail."

Anybody with information about this incident, or other suspects, is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Division of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office at 770-443-3015. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477). There's an award up to $2,000 if the information leads to an arrest.