Barcelona Wine Bar Murder: Reward Increased

ATLANTA, GA — The reward for tips in the shooting death of a woman who managed an Atlanta wine bar last month has been increased to $33,000.

The robbery and homicide happened about 1:45 a.m. on Nov. 19 at the Barcelona Wine Bar, in west Midtown. A 29-year-old manager, Chelsea Beller, was shot during the robbery and died soon afterward at Grady Memorial Hospital.

The Atlanta Police Department announced late Monday that the reward in the case, which is bankrolled by private dontations to Crime Stoppers and had sat at $20,000, has been increased.

According to police, Beller was helping close up the bar when three men broke in and tied up employees with electrical tape. The suspects forced Beller, of Atlanta, to an office upstairs, where they made her open a safe and then shot her in the shoulder.

Once officers arrived, Beller was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she later died. The three robbers got away before police arrived.

Police said they're working to identify the three men shown in surveillance videos.

"No crime against our citizens, anywhere in the city, is acceptable. But the robbery and murder of an innocent restaurant manager doing her job is a terrible crime that has shocked even the most jaded among us here at APD," said Carlos Campos, a police spokesman, at the time of the shooting. "These crimes are unacceptable, and we will not rest in our pursuit of shutting down these violent criminals."

Police have shared surveillance images of the robbers and say one of them may have suffered severe cuts from a razor-wire fence during their escape.

A fundraiser to support Beller's family has been set up on crowdfunding site GoFundMe. It had raised just over $27,000 as of Tuesday morning.

Atlanta police ask anyone with information that will help identify the suspects in the murder at the Barcelona Wine Bar to call them, or provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers Atlanta by calling 404-577-TIPS (8477). You can also text information to 274637 or visit crimestoppersatlanta.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Chelsea Beller photo courtesy GoFundMe. Surveillance image courtesy Atlanta Police Department.