UPDATE: Police Identify Woman Killed in Downtown Decatur

UPDATED at 6 p.m.

A Smyrna woman walking to her car after leaving a Decatur restaurant has been identified as the homicide victim found Saturday night downtown.

Decatur Police say Karen Pearce, 44, of Smyrna, was killed in the 100 block of East Ponce de Leon Avenue about 10:55 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses reported finding Pearce laying on the ground as they left a parking area behind One Decatur Town Center.

Although witnesses reported hearing a gunshot in the area about the time Pearce was found, police said Monday the cause of her death has not been determined. Pearce left a local restaurant and was walking adjacent to where her vehicle was parked.

WSB TV reports that Pearce worked a hairstylist at True Hair Salon & Spa in Marietta. The salon’s Facebook page confirmed the death posting: “True Salon/Spa will be closed Monday, December 8 as we mourn the death of one of our team members. We will reopen Tuesday at 8:00am.”

Decatur police, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, spent most of Saturday night processing the crime scene at the corner of Ponce De Leon and Church Street, reports WSB TV.

Police say they consider the case a murder. Pearce was deceased when officers arrived.

Investigators are working around the clock to identify a motive and suspect in this case, said Sgt. Jennifer Ross. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the Decatur Police Department at 404/373-6551 or Crimestoppers at 404/577-TIPS or online a thttp://www.crimestoppersatlanta.org/index .

Patch’s earlier story:

Police Investigate Shooting Death in Downtown Decatur