Deputies say surveillance video and tips helped lead to a traffic stop about 12 hours later.
DOUGLASVILLE, GA — A University of West Georgia student was shot to death behind a Dollar General store in Douglasville after meeting with a man she knew following a disagreement, investigators said, and a 20-year-old suspect was arrested hours later during a traffic stop on Interstate 20.
Authorities identified the victim as Lyric Latrice Farley, 19, a Carrollton resident and UWG student. The suspect, David Mark Anthony Powell, 20, of Douglasville, was taken into custody early Sunday, deputies said. Investigators have not released a motive and said the case remains active as they work to match evidence, including recovered firearms, to the shooting.
Deputies were called just after 1 p.m. Saturday to reports of shots fired near the intersection of Kings Highway and Central Church Road, in the Kings Corner area west of Atlanta. Investigators said Farley and Powell had a prior personal relationship and met in the area after an argument. Lt. Col. Tavarreus Pounds, a spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, said investigators believe Farley was fatally shot during that meeting. “Based on the evidence gathered, we believe the victim and the suspect met in the area following a disagreement,” Pounds said at a Monday news conference. “During that meeting, the victim was fatally shot.”
When deputies arrived Saturday afternoon, they found Farley inside a vehicle in a parking lot behind the Dollar General and pronounced her dead at the scene, authorities said. Investigators said she had been shot multiple times. The shooting location sits along a busy stretch of roadway lined with small businesses and shopping centers, and deputies said they secured the area while detectives began collecting evidence and reviewing nearby surveillance footage. Officials said video from multiple locations, along with witness statements and tips, helped them identify Powell as the suspect.
A worker at a nearby vape store, Kevin Smith, told Atlanta News First that he heard multiple gunshots and then saw an SUV speed out of the parking lot. Deputies did not publicly describe the vehicle involved, but investigators said they tracked leads overnight and worked through search warrants as the investigation developed. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that multiple firearms were recovered and vehicles believed to be connected to the case were impounded. The sheriff’s office said it was still working to determine whether any of the weapons recovered were tied to the shooting.
Authorities said Powell was located around 1:30 a.m. Sunday during a traffic stop on Interstate 20 near Highway 5 and was taken into custody without incident. Pounds described the investigation as a mix of older methods and new tools. “This was a combination of good old police work and modern technology,” he said, adding that the overnight work by investigators was critical to making an arrest within hours. Deputies have not said what sparked the disagreement or whether anyone else was present when Farley was shot.
Powell faced a first court appearance Monday in Douglas County Superior Court, where a judge reviewed the warrants and charges. WSB-TV reported that Chief Judge Cynthia Adams told Powell he was facing serious accusations, including felony murder, and read from a warrant that alleged he shot Farley multiple times with a firearm. Other reports said Powell also faced murder and aggravated assault charges. Deputies said he was being held without bond while the court process continues, and an attorney for Powell said a bond hearing would be scheduled for a later date.
In Georgia, felony murder is a charge that allows prosecutors to allege a death occurred during the commission of certain felonies. Investigators have not said which underlying felony or felonies they intend to pursue beyond the shooting itself, and they have not released affidavits or detailed probable cause statements describing what led them to Powell. The sheriff’s office also has not released details about the relationship between Farley and Powell, saying only that the two knew each other and had a personal connection.
Farley’s death sent shock waves across the University of West Georgia community in Carrollton, about 45 miles west of Atlanta. UWG is a public university that draws students from across metro Atlanta and west Georgia, and many students commute from surrounding counties. Authorities said Farley lived in Carrollton, the university’s home city, and traveled into Douglas County before the shooting. Investigators did not say whether she was with friends earlier in the day or how she arrived at the parking lot behind the store.
Douglasville, the county seat of Douglas County, has grown rapidly in recent decades as new housing and shopping areas have expanded along Interstate 20. Kings Highway and Central Church Road sit in a commercial corridor that sees heavy traffic, especially on weekends. Deputies said they responded to a 911 call of shots fired, a type of call that often triggers a fast-moving search for suspects, witness interviews, and a careful review of camera footage. In this case, authorities said surveillance video from multiple locations played a key role in quickly narrowing in on a suspect.
Investigators said they executed search warrants as part of the case, a step that can include seizing phones, vehicles, clothing, firearms, or other items that may help establish a timeline. Deputies said they recovered multiple firearms but stressed they were still working to determine whether any of them were used in the killing. Authorities did not say whether shell casings were recovered at the scene, whether the shooting occurred inside or outside the vehicle, or whether Farley was able to call for help.
The sheriff’s office has not released information about whether Powell and Farley exchanged messages before meeting, whether the disagreement was in person or by phone, or whether the meeting was planned in advance. Officials also did not say whether there were prior reports of violence between the two. Investigators have emphasized that some details remain unknown as evidence is processed and interviews continue. Deputies said the investigation remains active and additional information could be released later as the case moves through court.
Friends and classmates described Farley in social media posts as a young woman with plans for school and the future. Officials have not detailed her course of study at UWG. Public records and school information about Farley were not released by authorities, and investigators focused their public comments on the facts of the shooting and the arrest. The sheriff’s office did not announce any scheduled public vigil or memorial, and university officials have not publicly detailed any campus events connected to the case.
For law enforcement, the next steps include completing forensic testing, reviewing any remaining video, and continuing interviews to fill gaps in the timeline. If prosecutors move forward, the case could include an indictment by a grand jury, followed by hearings on bond, evidence, and trial scheduling. Deputies said Powell’s initial appearance was the first formal step in the court process, and his attorney indicated he would return to court for a bond hearing. Authorities did not announce a date for that hearing.
Investigators also face decisions about which charges to pursue as the case develops. Early charging documents can change as evidence is analyzed and prosecutors review witness statements. Authorities have said they used investigative leads and technology to identify and locate Powell, but they have not explained what technology was used or whether it included license plate readers, phone data, or other tracking methods. Deputies have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators.
In the parking lot area where the shooting occurred, the scene on Saturday afternoon shifted quickly from weekend traffic to a police response, with deputies securing the area behind the store and moving in and out as detectives processed evidence. Nearby workers said the sound of gunfire was startling, and the sight of a vehicle racing away added to the confusion. By Monday, investigators were stressing that, while an arrest had been made, they still needed to determine exactly what happened in the moments leading up to Farley’s death.
Powell remained in custody Tuesday as investigators continued reviewing evidence and preparing for the next court dates, authorities said. The sheriff’s office has not released a motive, and the next milestone is a bond hearing expected to be scheduled in Douglas County Superior Court.
Author note: Last updated February 10, 2026.