The unrelenting quest for justice in the tragic shooting that took place two years ago at a Commerce, GA Dollar General store continues, as state investigators keep probing for leads. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is once again reaching out to the public for assistance to identify a suspect in the January 26, 2021, incident that left one man dead and his brother wounded.
On that fateful day, the scene was a Dollar General store located 45 B. Wilson Road where William "Billy" Smith and his brother Phillip Smith were found with gunshot injuries. Both were immediately taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville; however, Billy Smith succumbed to his injuries while his brother survived. A suspect described as a light-skinned male, roughly 5-foot-10 with dark hair, was reported to have fled the area in a smaller, dark-colored SUV.
Renewing their call for tips, the GBI released new surveillance video, obtained by 11Alive, showing the suspect believed to be involved in the shooting. The footage captures a man matching the suspect's description entering the store minutes prior to the incident. The GBI believes the suspect shot Billy Smith as he was entering the premise, then fled in what appeared to be a dark-colored Chevrolet HHR.
The community and family of the deceased are still grappling with the loss. Smith, 49, is remembered as a family man, survived by a wife, five sons, and a daughter. In a push to track down the suspect, authorities are urging anyone with any shred of information to step forward. Tips can be directed to the GBI's Regional Investigative Office in Athens at (706) 552‐2309 or to the Commerce Police Department at (706) 335‐3200. Anonymous information can also be submitted via the GBI Tip line at 1-800-597-8477 or online. The suspect's capture is critical not only for the Smith family but for assuaging a community still haunted by an unanswered atrocity.
