Gwinnett County

Suspect identified in shooting that left 2 dead outside Gwinnett bar

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Police are investigating a shootout that left two people dead outside a Gwinnett County bar Friday night, including one of the bar's owners.

The shooting started out as an argument inside the Prime Bar and Grill on Day Drive around 2:30 a.m., according to police.

Channel 2 Gwinnett Bureau Chief Tony Thomas obtained the arrest warrant for 23-year-old Samuel Songsy.

One of the victims has been identified as 47-year-old James Kim, who is one of the co-owners. Detectives believe Kim was caught in the crossfire.

The second victim has been identified as 26-year-old Malik Jett. Police said it's unclear at this time if Jett was involved in the argument.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas spoke to a witness who was at the bar at the time of the shooting.

The witness, who didn't want to be on camera, said the argument started inside the bar. Employees got the people involved outside and tried to calm them down.

The witness said that's when shots were fired into the air and then more shots rang out.

Jett and Kim were both shot and killed.

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On Saturday night, friends placed flowers on Kim's car and on the pavement where Jett fell. The bar remains closed while friends gathered to try to understand the violence and mourn their friend's deaths.

Thomas spoke with a woman who came to the bar to grieve. She told Thomas she was friends with one of the victims.

"He came here just to hang out," she said. "This is like a usual place for us to go hang out. I just wanted to be at the place he was last at. I just wanted to say goodbye."

Gwinnett police said that it isn't the first time they have been called to the bar.

"We have been here before. There's an extended history of fights and similar incidents that you would expect at a bar at this location," Detective Samantha Flynn told Pozen.

Anyone with information are urged to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300.