Less than a week after Anthony Tavarez — an expectant father and the son of a retired Atlanta police detective — was robbed and killed at a Cobb County apartment complex, both men believed to be responsible for his death have been apprehended.
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Robert Quigley announced late Tuesday the arrest of 30-year-old Buford resident Melvin Williams Evans, who was found around 2 p.m. while “hiding in an acquaintance’s residence” in Douglasville. Evans has been charged with murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault, among other offenses, in connection with Tavarez’s death.
Another suspect, Darius Jarrell Dunn, was arrested Saturday in Austell. He also is charged with murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery, Cobb jail records showed.
Tavarez, 23, was the father of a 1-year-old and, according to family members, his girlfriend is carrying his second child. He was the son of retired Atlanta police Detective Frank Tavarez.
At about 12:30 a.m. on Sept 16, he was found dead in the breezeway of a building at the Windwood Apartments off Hillcrest Drive near Austell.
A warrant for Dunn’s arrest accuses him of pointing a gun at Tavarez and grabbing his pockets in order to rob him. An iPhone and cash were stolen, police said.
“The accused did rip the victim’s pocket from his pants and said property was removed,” Dunn’s warrant said. “The accused then shot the victim in the back while the victim was trying to flee on foot.”
Tavarez did not live at the complex where he was killed.
Dunn and Evans are both being held at the Cobb County jail without bond.
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