Police Charge Man With Murder in Snellville Case

SNELLVILLE, GA — A Lawrenceville man has been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death of a man whose body was found near a rural pasture in Snellville.

Melvin Kent Roberts, 25, faces a list of charges that includes murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, harassing phone calls, theft and parole violation.

He is accused of shooting and killing Jabari Pettway, 23, of Duluth.

Pettway died due to multiple gunshot wounds, according to Gwinnett County Police.

His stolen Dodge Avenger was discovered in Atlanta on Friday with heavy fire damage, police said.

On November 2, Gwinnett Police were called at 8:42 a.m. to the end of Lenora Road. The call came from a worker tasked with patrolling a pasture in that area.

The worker said that when he got to the gate at the end of the property, he found a man lying face up in the grass on the shoulder of Lenora Road. The worker tried to revive the man, but he did not respond.

The Gwinnett County Fire Department was first to arrive on the scene and declared Pettway dead. Lenora Road dead ends a short distance from where the body was discovered.

Roberts was being held Tuesday at Gwinnett County Jail with no bond.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department