Gwinnett Man Arrested In Pharmacy Worker's Shooting Death

LOGANVILLE, GA — Five months after a Loganville pharmacy worker was fatally shot in the head, police said they have arrested the man accused in her death.

Loganville Police Chief Dick Lowry on Monday announced the arrest of Evander Derrell Choates, 29, of Loganville. He faces murder charges in connection with the November 2025 death of 62-year-old Kimberley Whaley.

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The shooting happened around 2 p.m., Nov. 14, in a pharmacy parking lot in the 4300 block of Atlanta Highway. Whaley died at Grady Memorial Hospital two days later of injuries sustained in the shooting, authorities previously said.

At the time, they said a person of interest was detained; but, Lowry said in December that there was no "sufficient probable cause" to arrest the person, who was not previously identified as Choates.

Lowry said "quite a bit changed" between the time Choates was detained and when he was arrested Monday.

"When we were forced to have to release him the night that this happened, I assure none of us were happy about it," Lowry said. "There's a big difference in believing someone is guilty or has committed a crime, or even knowing in your heart that person has committed the crime, and being able to prove it in a court of law."

RELATED: Pharmacy Worker Shot In Head In Loganville Dies Of Injuries

Choates was arrested on charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Lowry said. He was arrested by Loganville Police and Gwinnett County Police SWAT officers, the chief added.

Police said he was booked at the Walton County Jail.

Whaley and Choates were not known to one another at the time of the deadly shooting, Lowry said, noting there were "no obvious connections."

Multiple agencies have provided assistance with this case, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service.

The police chief addressed criticism his department has received from people online who questioned his "lack of transparency" and other factors in the case.

"We will not and cannot investigate homicides on Facebook," Lowry said. "The district attorney's office cannot try a homicide on social media. There is a huge difference between right to know, need to know and want to know."

He said he stands on his decision to limit information that was released in efforts to protect the integrity of the case.

Authorities have not identified a motive in the deadly shooting.

"Today, we delivered the results that we were after all along," Lowry said.

The case remains active, with Lowry saying his department will continue their work until trial.

"I want to say to the Whaley family, there's nothing we can do to bring your loved one back, but step one in making sure that your family receives justice started this morning," Lowry said.

Whaley worked at the local pharmacy and cared for her patients, according to her obituary published by Caldwell and Cowan Funeral Home. She was married for 18 years and enjoyed watching college football or trying new recipes with her spouse, the obituary read.

"Her compassion extended far beyond her work; she deeply believed in helping those less fortunate and sought every opportunity to make a positive impact. Kimberly also held a strong emotional engagement with politics, driven by her hope for meaningful social change and a better future for all. Her generous spirit, passion for others and unwavering dedication will be lovingly remembered by all who knew her," her obituary read.