Local

Family wants answers in loved one's death

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Clayton County family says they've waited seven years for justice. They say their brother was shot and killed in 2007, but nothing has been done about it.
 
"I don't think there is a moment that goes by for me that I don't think of him," said. Tanya Washington Moore said about her brother, Byron, the CEO of a real estate development company. 
 
On Dec. 16, 2007, Byron was shot three times in his Ansley Park mansion.

A police report ruled the shooting a homicide and a suspect was arrested.  But that suspect said it was self-defense and he was released on a $50,000 bond.  
 
Tanya says that was seven years ago and nothing has happened since. The family says they're frustrated because they've been trying to get answers from the Fulton County DA's office. They said they have no idea if anyone's working the case of if it's closed.

"He deserves better, we deserve better than this. Paul Howard needs to get off his duff and do something because we're tired," said Beverly Washington, Byron's sister.

Channel 2 Action News emailed the District Attorney's Office about the case, and late Thursday afternoon the office responded by saying the evaluation of the crime was the same as the original investigating detective, no probable cause for an arrest existed. 
 
The office said they have interviewed witnesses, family members and other interested parties as well as taking the extreme step of hiring a crime scene expert who after inspecting the evidence said the findings were consistent with the defendant's statement.

But somehow the Washington family didn't know any of this, until Channel 2 Action News got involved.
 
"Not one day goes by that my brother is not in my head," Washington said.

Howard said in a statement he has documentation of the meetings his office has spent with the family.  And if there is any more investigatory work that needs to be done the Atlanta police should be involved.