Douglasville is reeling after 19-year-old University of West Georgia student Lyric Latrice Farley was found shot to death inside her car on Saturday, a killing that stunned classmates and neighbors alike. Douglas County deputies say they quickly identified a suspect and arrested him the following night on charges that include felony murder and aggravated assault.
Deputies were called just after 1 p.m. Saturday to reports of gunfire near Central Church Road and Kings Highway, behind a Dollar General, according to CBS Atlanta. Officers found Farley inside a vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said a mix of physical evidence, nearby surveillance video and witness statements helped them quickly piece together what happened.
How deputies tracked the suspect
Douglas County officials say surveillance footage, community tips and witness accounts led them to 20-year-old David Marc Anthony Powell, as reported by WSB-TV. Deputies pulled Powell over on Interstate 20 near Highway 5 around 1:30 a.m. Sunday and took him into custody.
Search warrants executed in the case turned up multiple firearms and vehicles believed to be tied to the investigation. Authorities say the work is far from over and emphasize that the probe remains active.
Family remembers Lyric
Lyric's mother, Chiketa Brown, told Atlanta News First her daughter was "a bright young lady" who loved children and dreamed of working with kids. Brown called the loss devastating and said she had never met the suspect.
She also shared that the family has endured previous tragedies and that this killing has left them staggering under yet another unimaginable blow.
Charges and court next steps
Authorities have charged David Marc Anthony Powell, 20, with felony murder and aggravated assault. He has already made an initial court appearance and is expected to return for a bond hearing, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
So far, prosecutors have not publicly discussed a possible motive. Deputies are urging anyone who might have information about the case to contact investigators as the legal process moves forward.
UWG community mourns
Friends and relatives told Atlanta News First that Farley was studying special education at the University of West Georgia and had been active in Carrollton High School's ROTC and color guard. The university community and her classmates are mourning the sudden loss of a young woman they say had a bright future ahead.
Officials reiterate that the investigation is ongoing as Douglasville and the UWG campus try to make sense of a life cut short.
