William Hill

William Hill was a dedicated armored car driver and ATM courier, a man known for his honest, hard work. He was a father to two young daughters and spent his days ensuring money was delivered safely throughout the Atlanta, Georgia, area. His life was one of routine and responsibility, centered on providing for the family he went home to every night. But on a spring morning in 1998, a meticulously planned and brutally executed ambush ensured that he would never see his children again.

On May 6, 1998, William arrived at the Roswell-Wieuca Shopping Center in Atlanta’s affluent Buckhead neighborhood to refill an ATM. It was a routine stop in broad daylight, one he had likely made many times before. As he exited his vehicle with the money cassettes, he was targeted in a sniper-style attack. A single shot, fired from an AR-15 or a similar high-powered hunting rifle, struck him in the head. The shot came from the back of a stolen Ford pickup truck that had a camper shell, concealing the shooter from view. William Hill was killed instantly, with no warning and no demand for the money.

The aftermath of the shooting was as swift and calculated as the murder itself. As shocked bystanders looked on, a second man emerged. He was described as a white male, likely in his 40s or early 50s. In a chillingly calm display, he instructed witnesses to call 911 before walking over to where William lay and gathering the money bags, which contained up to $70,000. He then got into the stolen pickup truck with the hidden shooter, and they sped away from the scene. The entire event was a brazen and professional operation that left investigators with few immediate leads.

The Atlanta Police Department and the FBI were faced with a case marked by cunning and a ruthless disregard for human life. Minutes after the robbery and murder, the getaway vehicle was discovered just a few miles away, completely engulfed in flames. The Ford pickup, which had been reported stolen in January of that year, was intentionally set ablaze to destroy any potential physical evidence—fingerprints, hair, fibers, or DNA—that might have been left behind. This act demonstrated the killers' foresight and experience, suggesting they were not amateurs.

Investigators explored potential connections to other professional armed robberies in the region, including similar crimes in 1989 and the Atlanta suburb of Chamblee in 1992, though no definitive links were publicly established. The senselessness of the crime, particularly the fact that William was given no chance to comply or even react, led many to believe the perpetrators were highly dangerous and had military or specialized training. The case gained national attention, airing on "America's Most Wanted" at least five times between 1999 and 2004 in an effort to generate new leads from the public.

Decades have passed, but the murder of William Hill remains unsolved. The two men responsible for his death have never been identified or brought to justice. For the two daughters who grew up without their father, the passage of time has not diminished the pain of their loss. As of February 2024, the case continues to be discussed on cold case forums, a lingering mystery from a violent day in Atlanta. No suspects have ever been officially named or charged in this brutal and efficient crime.

The investigation is now considered a cold case. Anyone with information regarding the murder of William Hill is urged to contact the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at 404-679-9000 or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477). The killers took a sum of money, but they also stole a father from his children and a life full of future milestones, leaving behind only questions and a family's enduring grief.