Burned Body Investigation Shifts To Johns Creek

JOHNS CREEK, GA — A shootout at an apartment complex Monday evening has led to Johns Creek police investigators teaming up with their counterparts in Lawrenceville to solve the case of a body found inside a burning car.

The grisly discovery was made around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30 behind Village Bluff Drive in Lawrenceville, and officers have learned that the car and victim were both connected to an incident where a drug deal turned violent at an apartment complex, said Johns Creek police spokesperson Capt. Chris Byers.

These events unfolded when officers received a call around 9 p.m. Monday of shots fired at the Retreat at Johns Creek apartment complex at 6005 State Bridge Road. Witnesses told police they heard what sounded like gunfire at the complex's leasing office and thought they heard a car leaving the scene. Some of the perpetrators, the witnesses added, may have fled on foot into a nearby wooded area.

Byers said police K-9s and drones were dispatched to the scene to see if they can track any of the subjects, but they were unlucky on that front. While canvassing the area, Byers said officers found a bullet that hadn't been fired, however.

A few hours later, Lawrenceville police received a call of a car in flames and once firefighters extinguished the blaze, a body was found among the ashes. Detectives in that jurisdiction were given a tip that led them to the victim's acquaintance, who informed police of their movements at the Johns Creek apartment complex.

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This acquaintance said they went to buy drugs at the complex and while sitting inside the vehicle, they were approached by three people, one of whom was armed. They opened fire on the car, and Byers said a "gun battled ensued" in the parking lot outside the leasing office.

The acquaintance said he jumped out of the vehicle — leaving the passenger behind — and fled into the woods. While running away, he said he turned back and saw another person jump into the driver's seat of the car and drive away with the passenger in tow.

Other than the alleged drug buy and shoot out in the apartment complex's parking lot, the victim and subjects do not have any ties to Johns Creek, Byers told Patch. The victim found inside the burning vehicle remains unknown, but Lawrenceville police note the body belongs to a woman.

"Everyone is connected to Gwinnett County," Byers said.

With the information in hand from the acquaintance, Byers said investigators will work to track down the others involved in the incidents.

"Hopefully, things are going to be developing pretty quickly," Byers said.

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