Gainesville police have arrested an East Point man in connection with Thursday’s fatal shooting of a prominent businessman outside a CVS, officials said.
DeMarvin Bennett, 24, was taken into custody about 2 a.m. Sunday morning, Gainesville police Chief Jay Parrish announced at a news conference.
Businessman and philanthropist Jack Hough, 73, was sitting inside his parked car while his wife went into the CVS off Park Hill Drive, Parrish said.
With the car window rolled down, Bennett allegedly approached and tried to rob Hough around 7:45 p.m.
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“He resisted the suspect’s attempt and a struggle ensued,” Parrish said. “At that time, Mr. Hough was shot while sitting inside his vehicle, twice in the torso.”
He was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died, AJC.com previously reported.
RELATED: Businessman shot, killed outside Gainesville CVS while running errand with wife
Investigators found forensic evidence at the scene that led them to Bennett, Parrish said. After being arrested without incident in East Point, he was taken back to Hall County and booked into the jail on a charge of murder.
Police also found what they believe is the gun used to kill Hough.
Bennett has been arrested before, Parrish said, but he did not have details on his criminal history. He was in Gainesville with his girlfriend to look for work and housing opportunities, police said.
Hough was a well-known businessman in North Georgia. An Air Force veteran, his successful business developed and operated food courts in malls and airports nationally, Channel 2 Action News reported Friday.
"In the early nineties he pioneered the consolidated food court concept and expanded successfully into outlet centers," his family wrote in an obituary.
He was also known for his philanthropic work. His family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to two of Hough’s favorite Gainesville charities: We Care and the Gainesville First United Methodist Church.
“This community lost a wonderful man,” Parrish said, adding that he spoke to Hough’s family following the arrest. “It takes that cloud off of them as they begin their own healing process.”
Hough’s death was one of four “random unrelated acts of gun violence” over the past five weeks, Parrish said in a video message on Friday.
“We understand your alarm and concern for your safety in the city,” Parrish said. “We know that random acts of violence are not the norm for Gainesville, Georgia.”
One of the four shootings remains unsolved, police said.
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