Crime & Safety
Update: Suspect Arrested in Barney Simms Murder
Eric Banks was arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with last weekend's shooting death of a southwest Atlanta community leader.
ATLANTA, GA -- Police have arrested a suspect in this past weekend's shooting of community leader Barney Simms.
WANTED! Eric Banks for the murder of Barney Simms. Consider armed/dangerous. Call 911 or CS https://t.co/1Tmo95CJP9 pic.twitter.com/VXfA1vhWi8
— Atlanta Police Dept (@Atlanta_Police) April 14, 2016
Banks, 17, was arrested Thursday afternoon, according to Atlanta police.
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Simms, a church and community leader in his southwest Atlanta neighborhood, was found shot to death in front of his Connally Drive home Saturday afternoon.
Witnesses said they heard gunshots around 4 pm. Simms' body was found in a set of bushes off to the side of the house. The house was unlocked and Simms' black Lexus was missing, but the car was found in East Point around midnight.
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Police say Banks was with Simms at a Virginia Avenue Waffle House an hour before the shooting.
Image: Atlanta Police Department
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