ATLANTA — Police have increased a reward to up to $10,000, as investigators continue the search for two men, they believe may have information that would help them solve an open homicide investigation.
On Tuesday afternoon, APD’s Homicide Investigators, along with members of Deandre Houston’s family held a news conference at Atlanta Police Headquarters.
Houston was found shot and killed just before midnight on Thursday, Jan. 7 at Encore Hookah Bar & Bistro located at 320 Luckie St NW.
Police said he was headed to his car to charge his phone, when suspects allegedly approached him in a stolen Nissan, shot him, then fled. Investigators have recovered surveillance video of two men in the area of the shooting and they are asking for assistance identifying them.
After the shooting, surveillance video captured the vehicle going to a MARTA Station at Donald Lee Howell. From there, the two men abandoned the car and ran, according to police.
Houston’s family is working closely with Atlanta Police in asking the public for help in closing the case.
During the news conference, Houston’s mother described her son a “bright human being." She said she never though her family “would be in this situation.”
While asking the public to come forward with information regarding the whereabouts of the two suspects, Houston’s mother called her son’s death an act of “unnecessary violence."
Earlier Tuesday, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms addressed the city’s increase of violence. "There are too many guns on our streets, and too many people in our communities who don't have regard for basic human life," she said.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers. Information can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.StopCrimeATL.com.