Atlanta

APD chief: Confirmed DNA match to evidence in deadly Barcelona Wine Bar robbery

ATLANTA — A month after the killing of a restaurant manager, Channel 2 Action News has learned Atlanta police have a major new clue in the case.

Channel 2's Dave Huddleston sat down with the Atlanta police chief on Tuesday where she revealed that police know who's responsible for Chelsea Beller's murder.

"The good news is we did get a DNA hit and what that means is we got DNA back on someone who is already in the system. They are on file," Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields said.

In an exclusive interview, Shields told Huddleston they are closer to making an arrest in the Barcelona Wine Bar killing.


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Manager Chelsea Beller, 29, was shot and killed when three suspects broke into the restaurant, forced her into an upstairs office to open a safe and then shot her as they ran.

Beller was rushed to a nearby hospital where she later died.

Shields told Huddleston on Tuesday that she was shocked by the crime

"It was really one of the most callous murders I’ve seen in a while," Shields said.

In dramatic security video released Nov. 19, you can see the suspects tie up the other restaurant employees with duct tape before escaping.

A week later, police investigators found a hooded sweatshirt worn by one of the suspects the night of the murder.

The chief said with that DNA hit on one of the suspects, it won't be long before they catch the shooter.

"As a criminal, we have their name, their identity. That, coupled with the fact that we have a spectacular homicide division, I know we're going to make an arrest," Shields told Huddleston. “These folks are going to be held accountable. Can't come soon enough."

Shields didn't mention a timeline of a possible arrest.

There is a $33,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

Huddleston contacted the restaurant to get their reaction to Tuesday development, but has not heard back from them yet.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.