UPDATE #2:  Henry County Police Department has arrested Ernesto Pelayo. Pelayo was transported to the Gwinnett County Detention Center and is being held without bond.

UPDATE #1: The victim has been identified as Juan Davila (age 41, Lawrenceville). The suspect has been identified as Ernesto Pelayo (age 34, Lilburn). Pelayo has active warrants for Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault.  He is not in custody. 

Pelayo was seen fleeing the incident location in a black Dodge Ram 3500 with GA license plate TAT2291.  Those who know his whereabouts are encouraged to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.

ORIGINAL: (Lawrenceville, Ga., Saturday, December 18, 2021) The Gwinnett County Police Department is investigating a domestic-related homicide that began as a fatal pedestrian collision in a Lawrenceville neighborhood.

Witnesses called 911 at approximately 5:15 AM to report a pedestrian collision on Great Oaks Drive near the intersection of Windsor Oak Circle.  One man was lying in the street suffering from significant injuries.  The driver of a black pick-up truck fled the scene.  The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died as a result of his injuries.

The Accident Investigation Unit was requested to investigate the incident.  During their investigation, information was learned that took this from a pedestrian collision to a homicide.  The Homicide Unit along with the Crime Scene Unit were dispatched to the scene.

Detectives learned that the victim and the suspect both attended a Christmas party at one of the homes the night before.  The men are family members related by marriage.  At some point, the two men got into a physical fight in the backyard.  That incident resulted in one of the men getting into his truck and the other man in the roadway.  Witnesses reported seeing the truck strike the victim and then driving away.  The nature of the physical fight and reasons they ended up in the street are still being investigated. 

Detectives would like to interview the driver of the truck.  The victim is in his early-40s, and the driver is in his mid-30s. 

If anyone has any information to share in this case, please contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. 

Case Number:  21-103557