The community of Gwinnett County is grappling with a wave of violence following a double-homicide discovered last week in Lilburn, which has since been connected to additional violent incidents in the area. Gwinnett County police have released new details regarding the victims and the alleged assailant now in custody in Tennessee.
On a late Friday night, authorities found two individuals, Jesua Valesca Garcia Perez, 17, and Javier Hernandez Martinez, 28, dead from gunshot wounds inside a car near Harbins Road and Harbins Point Lane, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Investigators believe that an argument within the vehicle escalated, leading the suspect, Javier Aragon Ruiz, 54, to allegedly open fire on Garcia Perez and Hernandez Martinez. The same night, Aragon Ruiz is accused of attempting to shoot Soamia Garcia Perez and attacking Jace Corley with a knife, inflicting a potentially life-threatening neck injury.
Authorities initiated a manhunt that concluded with Aragon Ruiz's arrest in Robertson County, Tennessee, involving collaborative efforts from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Metro Nashville Police Aviation Unit. WSB-TV noted that the incidents on Windscape Village Lane and the Lilburn double-homicide were quickly connected by detectives after processing both scenes and interviewing witnesses.
With Aragon Ruiz currently being held in Tennessee, pending extradition, police are urging anyone with information to come forward. The motive behind these violent acts, wherein the suspect has been described as an associate of the victims, remains under investigation. Those with relevant information are encouraged to contact Gwinnett County police, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers for a possible reward, both media outlets mentioned.
