Police in Social Circle say the body of a man with a Stone Mountain address was discovered last week when firefighters extinguished a brush fire near Highway 278 and I-20.
Police said a motorist called 911 to report the brush fire around 11:44 p.m. March 29. Firefighters arriving to put out the fire found the body in the nearby woods, police said. The man was identified as Akili Jabari Stewart, 36, of Stone Mountain.
Police said preliminary results from an autopsy completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner’s office showed that Stewart died as a result of gunshot wounds.
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The Social Circle Police Department, GBI Athens Regional Office, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office are still investigating the case. Since arson was involved, the State Fire Marshall issued a reward up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible, police said.
Anyone with information regarding the investigation can contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or the GBI Athens Office at (706) 552-2309.
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