Zachary Butler was 19 and a student at Valdosta State University when he was found in his apartment at The Gates complex on Baytree Road on the evening of July 12, 2017, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. An initial call suggested a possible suicide, but investigators at the scene concluded there were signs of foul play. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation later ruled the death a homicide.

The Valdosta Police Department described the shooting as drug-related and said detectives were pursuing leads. Despite those early statements, there have been no public announcements of arrests or identified suspects, and the case grew cold. The death remains an open, unsolved homicide.

If anyone knew Zachary, saw activity at The Gates in July 2017, or has information that could help, please come forward to investigators.