An arrest has been made in connection with the homicide of Guadalupe Garcia Rodriguez, who was found dead in his truck in Lawrenceville last month. The Gwinnett County Police Department has charged Mario Rene Lopez-Jolon, a 38-year-old man from Lawrenceville, with the crime. The new lead that resulted in this arrest pointed to a land dispute in Mexico involving the victim and the father of Lopez-Jolon's ex-girlfriend, according to the department's news release.
The investigators followed up on this information by interviewing the ex-girlfriend at her Lawrenceville home, which eventually led them to identify Lopez-Jolon as a suspect. Lopez-Jolon was later located and apprehended in a Huntsville, Alabama, hotel by local police working in tandem with Gwinnett detectives. He is facing multiple charges including malice murder, aggravated assault, and the possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies, and is awaiting extradition back to Gwinnett County.
In addition to this development, the Gwinnett County Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying another male suspect connected to the case. Details shared by the police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 20s or 30s with a slim build, last seen near Hidden Drive in Lawrenceville. They urge anyone with information to contact the GCPD or Crime Stoppers where tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website or by phone.
The investigation started on July 3 after police found Rodriguez's body in a truck parked on Paden Cove Trail during a late-night check. The discovery followed a missing person report filed by Rodriguez's wife two days prior, claiming that her husband had failed to return home. Despite the recent arrest and appeal for public assistance, police have yet to articulate a clear motive. They continue to appeal for information from the public.
