Police arrested a suspect late Sunday night in Sunday morning's shooting death of an elderly man outside the Hardee's restaurant on Homer Road in Commerce.
Commerce Police said Xavier Clark, 23, was booked at the Jackson County Jail just before midnight and charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and two counts of cruelty to children.
Commerce Police previously named Clark as a person of interest in the fatal shooting.
The agency said Clark was located traveling north on Highway 441 in the Nicholson area. He was stopped by Jackson County Deputies and Commerce Police Officers while driving a blue Dodge Journey. He was arrested during the traffic stop for an outstanding warrant unrelated to the murder investigation.
Varnum was reportedly shot multiple times at about 7:30 a.m. He was resuscitated at the scene by a bystander and taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by an ambulance but later died from his injuries.
The Commerce Police Department has partnered with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in this case.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Sgt. Adam King at (706) 335-1847 or by email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling (800)-597-8477 or going to https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. Tips can also be made by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile application.
UPDATE:
Commerce Police Chief Ken Harmon confirmed Varnum was shot multiple times Sunday morning as they work to find the suspect and uncover a motive.
"When they [police] arrived they found Calvin Varnum, a 72-year-old man that everybody's very familiar with in Commerce," Harmon said. "He's a kind man that just stands on the sides of our roads and waves at cars as they come by. Everybody knows him. Like I said, just a very kind man. He was shot multiple times. We're really not sure what the motive is."
A bystander, a nurse and a Commerce police officer were able to resuscitate Varnum at the scene but he later died at the hospital due to his injuries.
As of 4:39 p.m. Sunday, three more anonymous donors as well as other businesses and local residents of the area have pledged reward money for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. The reward pool currently sits at $5,000.
As of 3:11 p.m. Sunday:
A 72-year-old man was shot and killed Sunday morning outside of a Hardee's restaurant on Homer Road in Commerce.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. Sunday Calvin Varnum, 72, was shot and killed outside the Hardee's located at 44 Homer Road in Commerce, according to the Commerce Police Department. Varnum was reportedly resuscitated at the scene by a bystander and taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by an ambulance but later died from his injuries.
The Commerce Police Department has partnered with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in this case. Agents and detectives have identified a suspect using surveillance footage and witnesses at the scene.
The department reports the suspect is a black male wearing a ball cap and was last seen driving a dark blue Dodge Journey north on Homer Road away from the downtown Commerce area.
The Skate A-Rama USA roller skating rink in Commerce has teamed up with two anonymous donors and is offering a $1,500 reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
Varnum was said to be a “very kind old gentleman who loved everyone” and was often seen waving to passing drivers on a daily basis, according to Skate A-Rama.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Adam King at (706) 335-1847 or email [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling (800)-597-8477 or going to https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. Tips can also be made by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile application.
