COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The man accused of killing three people at a Cobb County country club was arrested hours after the weekend shooting on unrelated charges and released, jail records show.
Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox said authorities apprehended the "lone shooter," Bryan Rhoden, Thursday around 5:30 p.m. in Chamblee. He's facing three counts of murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of kidnapping. The shooting happened at the Pinetree Country Club on Saturday, July 3.
However, before Thursday's arrest, Rhoden was taken booked into the DeKalb County jail early Sunday morning, for DUI, false ID, and other charges unrelated to the shooting.
Friday evening, the arresting agency Chamblee Police, provided more insight about what happened the night of the shooting. Chamblee Polices said they took Rhoden into custody on unrelated traffic charges on July 3.
However, at the time, the suspect was still unknown to law enforcement as the alleged shooter in the triple homicide. But during the arrest, Chamblee Police said they confiscated a large sum of money.
During a news conference Thursday evening, 11Alive asked the Cobb County police chief about the previous arrest that happened hours after the Cobb shooting.
"I have been told that he had a previous arrest," the chief said about Rhoden.
However, he didn't elaborate to say whether or not Rhoden's name might have been connected to the Cobb case at that time.
"At this point, I don't want to discuss what all we knew at that point. Like I said, the investigation is continuing and we're actually involved at this moment in discussions," he said.
Jail records show Rhoden was released on bond from the DeKalb County jail on July 6. Friday, Chamblee Police also confirmed Rhoden was released on the 6th at 8:35 p.m.
However on July 8, Chamblee officers said Cobb detectives obtained warrants charging the suspect in connection with the triple homicide.
He is now charged in the deaths of the two people found shot to death in the bed of a Ram 3500 pick-up truck located at the Cobb County country club's golf course. One of the victims was identified as 76-year-old Paul Pierson, who was the owner of the Ram 3500, according to police. The other man was later identified as 46-year-old Henry Valdez of California.
The other victim, golf pro Gene Siller, was found on the green of the 10th hole with a gunshot wound to his head. Detectives learned Siller was in no way targeted in the shooting and was killed because of what he might have witnessed.
Chamblee officers and the U.S. Marshal's Task Force assisted with taken the suspect into custody. Chamblee Police said they used the money that was confiscated to set up a sting. Rhoden allegedly contacted police to retrieve the money. The suspect was taken into custody when he arrived at Chamblee's police department.
"Our investigators will continue to work the case to its completion and move it forward to the Cobb County District Attorney's Office for prosecution," Chief Cox said Thursday.