Investigators say the attacks involved strangers and began with forced entry into an apartment.
ATLANTA, GA — Police arrested 31-year-old Kwame Shabazz on Thursday night, saying he is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in Buckhead and is also wanted in a separate rape case in College Park. Authorities said he was taken into custody in Gwinnett County and moved to Atlanta for booking.
The arrest came after Atlanta police and other agencies circulated surveillance images, a sketch and video clips while asking for help identifying a suspect they described as dangerous. Investigators said the Buckhead assault was reported Jan. 22 at an apartment complex on Cosmopolitan Drive Northeast. Police also said Shabazz has a College Park rape warrant and a probation warrant in Fulton County, raising questions about how quickly the cases will move through multiple courts and jurisdictions.
Atlanta police said they investigated the Buckhead case after a woman called 911 shortly after reporting she had been sexually assaulted inside her apartment. Investigators said the attack happened Jan. 22 at a complex on the 700 block of Cosmopolitan Drive Northeast, in the Lenox Road and Piedmont Road area of Buckhead. Police said a man slipped into the building as doors were closing, then moved into a hallway where he encountered the victim as she took out trash. Investigators said he forced his way into her apartment and assaulted her. At a Thursday news conference held before the arrest was announced, Special Victims Unit Commander Lt. Rodney Crosby said the victim reported the crime immediately and stayed engaged with detectives as they built the case.
Police said the Buckhead investigation quickly expanded after a second report in the same area the next day. Investigators said a woman reported that a man exposed himself to her in the 2200 block of Piedmont Avenue Northeast, not far from the site of the earlier assault. Detectives said the two events, along with surveillance footage showing the suspect walking through Buckhead, helped them narrow in on Shabazz. Crosby said witnesses and victims were shown photo lineups and identified Shabazz as the suspect. Authorities said the images and a composite sketch were shared publicly as detectives sought additional tips about where he was staying and how he moved around the neighborhood.
By Thursday afternoon, officials said they believed Shabazz could be responsible for sexual assaults in more than one jurisdiction and that he might not have stable housing. Police said he was captured on surveillance cameras in Buckhead, and investigators stated they believed he was likely homeless. Atlanta police also said College Park authorities had an outstanding warrant accusing him of rape in a separate case. The agencies did not release detailed public descriptions of the College Park assault, and they did not identify the victims. Officials said the cases appear to involve women who did not know the suspect. Police said they were working across city lines to compare reports, timelines and evidence while trying to determine whether additional assaults could be connected.
Authorities said Shabazz was taken into custody Thursday evening in Gwinnett County and then transported to the Atlanta Police Department. Police said he was awaiting transfer to the Fulton County Jail as the paperwork for booking and custody was completed. In the Atlanta case, police listed charges that include rape, sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery, false imprisonment, hindering a person from making an emergency call, burglary and aggravated assault. Officials also said he faces a rape charge tied to the College Park warrant. Police said a probation warrant was active in Fulton County as well, which could affect how quickly he appears before a judge. Court dates and a first appearance schedule were not immediately announced.
Investigators also pointed to additional allegations and records as they described Shabazz’s background and how they tracked him. Police said they linked him to other incidents, including a reported theft of an e-bike and a public indecency report in Buckhead. Records reviewed by local news outlets show Shabazz previously served time after an attempted murder conviction in 2015 and later faced escape-related allegations, including a 2020 escape from the Atlanta Transitional Center. Crosby said the Buckhead victim provided critical information early, and he credited surveillance, tips and cooperation among agencies for locating Shabazz. “One rape is too many,” Crosby said at the news conference. “He has the two. We don’t want him to do any more.”
Shabazz remained in custody as of Saturday, and investigators said they expect the case to proceed through Fulton County and College Park court processes. Police have not said whether additional charges are expected, but they indicated detectives are continuing to review tips, videos and other reports for possible connections. Officials said the next major step will be Shabazz’s booking into the Fulton County Jail and his initial court appearances, where charges and bail conditions will be addressed.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 7, 2026.