On August 24, 2017, at about 1:00 a.m. in Griffin, Georgia, 36-year-old Quentin D. Poole, an African American man, was found inside a Slaton Avenue residence with multiple gunshot wounds and later died; his death was ruled a homicide. Investigators described the incident as a home invasion by three or four Black males wearing bandanas. A second person in the home was also shot, treated at a local hospital and released. Authorities said the case appeared to be drug-related and the Griffin Police Department offered a $1,500 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction.

Police opened an active investigation and later announced several arrests in connection with Poole’s murder; those arrested faced charges including murder and conspiracy. Court hearings were underway and testimony was beginning to clarify aspects of motive and multiple participants.