Location: 300 block of McDaniel Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia
Date: Friday, August 21, 2026, about 1:37 a.m.
Accused: Kevon McFasion, 17; Timardre Johnson, 20; and a 16-year-old whose name has not been released
Charges: Murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Status: Three people charged; no court dates reported yet
Tarris Caswell, a 33-year-old music producer and DJ, was shot and killed early on Friday, August 21, 2026, outside an apartment complex on McDaniel Street in southwest Atlanta, Georgia. On Friday, October 9, Atlanta police announced that two more people had been arrested and charged with murder in his death. That brings the number of people charged in the case to three.
Investigators say Caswell and a friend went to the complex believing they were giving two men a ride to a music session, and that the meeting was a planned robbery. His mother has asked the public to help police.
Who Was Tarris Caswell?
Caswell made his living in music. His mother, Leslie McCalla, told WSB-TV that he had worked as a DJ around the country and had built connections in the industry along the way. The station reported that he moved to Atlanta in April so he could keep growing as a producer.
FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the family is from Rhode Island, that they planned to hold his funeral there, and that they set up a GoFundMe to help with the cost of returning him to Rhode Island.
"My son was literally the light of our family," McCalla told WSB-TV. Speaking to FOX 5, she said, "Tarris was a very lovable person, he was just the life of the party." She also described how he spent his time: "He was a homebody or in the studio making beats and music."
What Happened on McDaniel Street in Atlanta?
According to Atlanta police information reported by FOX 5 and CBS News Atlanta, officers were called at about 1:37 a.m. on August 21 to The Villages of Castleberry Hill apartments on McDaniel Street SW. Atlanta News First reported that the address is in the 300 block and that officers found Caswell in a vehicle parked in front of one of the buildings. He had been shot. Grady EMS crews gave aid, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have said that Caswell and a friend were lured to the location. As CBS News Atlanta and Atlanta News First reported, the two believed they were picking up two men to take to a rap studio or video session.
McCalla gave FOX 5 her own account of what she had been told. She said her son was picking up colleagues from the music industry, and that a colleague was robbed of a watch before her son was shot. That account comes from the family. FOX 5 also reported that investigators believe the people involved appeared to know one another.
Has Anyone Been Arrested?
Yes. Three people have now been charged. The first arrest came on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Atlanta police said they arrested a 16-year-old on charges of murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Police did not release the teenager's name because of the suspect's age, according to Atlanta News First.
On Friday, October 9, police announced two more arrests and named both people: Kevon McFasion, 17, and Timardre Johnson, 20. Atlanta News First and WSB Radio reported their ages. Both are charged with murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to Atlanta News First and FOX 5. FOX 5 reported that the two were arrested on Friday.
WSB Radio reported that the FBI recovered six guns, nearly 20 pounds of marijuana and more than $5,000 in cash during the search for the two. The station also reported that Atlanta police said three other people were taken into custody. That report did not name them or say whether they face any charges.
All three people charged in this case are accused, not convicted. Each is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What Police Have Said
One week after the shooting, FOX 5 reported that no arrests had been made and that police had not released a suspect description. On Monday, August 31, the Atlanta Police Department released photos and surveillance video of two men it called persons of interest and asked the public to help identify them. Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest, according to CBS News Atlanta and WSB-TV.
The reports reviewed for this article do not say how investigators identified the three people now charged or what role each one is alleged to have played. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477. Tips can be given anonymously.
What Happens Next
The cases against McFasion, Johnson and the 16-year-old now move to the courts. None of the reports gives a court date or a bond decision for any of them.
McCalla told FOX 5 that the family's priorities were making funeral arrangements for her son and finding the people responsible for his death. Her appeal to the public was direct: "Whoever knows anything about the story, please get in contact with police and solve this case."
Timeline of the Tarris Caswell Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday, August 21, 2026, about 1:37 a.m. | Officers are called to The Villages of Castleberry Hill apartments on McDaniel Street SW. Caswell, 33, is found shot inside a parked vehicle and dies at the scene. |
| Monday, August 31, 2026 | Atlanta police release photos and video of two persons of interest. A reward of up to $5,000 is offered. |
| Thursday, September 24, 2026 | Police arrest a 16-year-old on murder and related charges. The name is not released. |
| Friday, October 9, 2026 | Police announce the arrests of Kevon McFasion, 17, and Timardre Johnson, 20, on murder and related charges. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Tarris Caswell?
He was a 33-year-old music producer and DJ who moved to Atlanta in April 2026, according to WSB-TV. His family is from Rhode Island.
When and where was Tarris Caswell killed?
He was shot at about 1:37 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, at an apartment complex on McDaniel Street SW in southwest Atlanta, and died at the scene.
Who has been charged in the Tarris Caswell case?
Atlanta police have charged Kevon McFasion, 17, Timardre Johnson, 20, and a 16-year-old whose name has not been released. All three are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What do police say was the motive?
Police describe the shooting as a planned robbery. No further motive has been made public.
MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.
Sources
- FOX 5 Atlanta: two more arrests in the death of a music producer in southwest Atlanta
- Atlanta News First: police announce two more arrests and the charges
- WSB Radio: report on the two arrests and items recovered by the FBI
- CBS News Atlanta: police seek persons of interest and describe a planned robbery
- WSB-TV: mother speaks about her son as police release video of persons of interest
- FOX 5 Atlanta: family interview one week after the shooting
- Atlanta News First: first police account of the McDaniel Street shooting
Comments
Post a Comment