When police asked a lease-holder about a man seen leaving her apartment on the day of a deadly shooting, she lied, police said.
Shantavier Willis gave detectives a fake name for the man police suspected in the Aug. 6 shooting death of 20-year-old Rodricous Gates Jr., Clayton County police spokeswoman Sgt. Ashanti Marbury said Monday.
Gates was visiting Willis’ place at Hampton Downs Apartments, located at 6519 Mount Zion Blvd. He was found fatally shot in the parking lot, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
Gates, a former standout quarterback at Mundy’s Mill High School, got in a fight with a man behind a building, which is where the shooting appears to have taken place, Marbury said.
After running to the front of another building, Gates collapsed and died.
Detectives tried several times to follow up with Willis but she didn’t respond until after her photo was shared on the police department’s social media site, Marbury said.
When Willis then showed up for an interview, police said she again lied about who was visiting her apartment and what happened before the shooting.
Another tipster told police 26-year-old Marcus Fraser was the man at Willis’ apartment. Police charged him with murder, aggravated assault, criminal attempt to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Marbury said.
On Aug. 29, Fraser returned to New York, where he turned himself in on an outstanding warrant related to a prior conviction, Marbury said.
Willis was charged with making false statements to police. Marbury said Willis is aware of the arrest warrant and is considered a fugitive.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477 and reference case# 17037711. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000 by texting information to 274637 or by visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.
In other news:
About the Author
