Police say a Decatur-area suspect now facing rape-related charges was caught with a handgun that investigators have linked to the killing of a man found at Belvedere Plaza. Warrants made public on July 7, 2026, spell out the evidence that allegedly connects that firearm to the plaza slaying.
According to 11Alive, the arrest followed an investigation in which witnesses reported hearing gunfire and crime-scene investigators processed the shopping-center scene. The man’s body was discovered at Belvedere Plaza, and investigators asked anyone with video or information to contact DeKalb County police, the warrants and officials said.
Where it happened and what’s nearby
Belvedere Plaza sits along Memorial Drive in unincorporated Decatur and appears in county planning filings under multiple Memorial Drive parcel numbers. County records reference an outparcel at 3507 Memorial Drive, while local reporting lists the center’s primary parcel at 3479 Memorial Drive, and the site has been the focus of recent redevelopment plans. DeKalb County filings and coverage highlighting plans to overhaul the aging strip center have documented the proposed changes.
What investigators say and next steps
The warrants do not indicate that homicide charges have been filed against the person arrested; instead, they outline the alleged possession of the firearm and the circumstances that led investigators to link that gun to the death. Prosecutors and DeKalb investigators will review the evidence and decide whether additional charges are warranted, 11Alive reported.
Detectives asked anyone who witnessed the shooting or who may have phone or dash-cam video to contact DeKalb County police; the investigation remains active, and officials said tips can prove crucial. This story will be updated as courts or law enforcement agencies release more information.
