Arrest made in Georgia golf course killings

Authorities have charged and arrested Bryan Rhoden in the July 3 triple homicide at the Pinetree Country Club, in which golf pro Gene Siller was killed, Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox said in an evening press conference on Thursday.

He has been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping, the chief added.

[Original story, published at 7:56 p.m. ET]

Authorities arrested a suspect Thursday evening in the July 3 triple homicide at the Pinetree Country Club, in which golf pro Gene Siller was killed, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Saba Long said.

The suspect, identified as Bryan Rhoden, was arrested by the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office fugitive unit, US Marshals and Chamblee Police around 5:30 p.m. ET in Chamblee, Georgia, according to Long.

Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox is expected to host a press conference Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in reference to an arrest in the triple homicide, Cobb County Police said earlier.

Police previously said they were called to a report of a person shot on Saturday afternoon and found Siller — who was the club’s director of golf — shot in the head near the green of the course’s 10th hole.

Slain Georgia golf pro Gene Siller was someone who could make a bad day brighter, friends say

A truck was on the green, and officers found the bodies of the two other men in the truck’s bed — both of whom also had been shot, police said. One of the slain men was Paul Pierson, 76, of Kansas — the registered owner of the Ram 3500, police said.

Police identified the third victim as Henry Valdez, 46, of California, and said he and Pierson appeared “to have no relation to the location at all.”

Someone had driven to the green in the truck — a white Ram 3500 pickup — and shot Siller when Siller arrived to see what was going on, a member of the club told CNN affiliate WXIA. The shooter then fled, WXIA reported.

On Tuesday, police said they believed Siller was killed “because he witnessed an active crime taking place.”

“It does not appear he (Siller) was targeted,” but instead was killed because he “happened upon a crime in progress involving the unknown suspect and the two deceased males,” the Cobb County police said in a news release.

Golf pro Gene Siller killed and 2 others found dead at Georgia golf course
The Georgia State Golf Association expressed its condolences for Siller’s death. “All of us at the GSGA are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred earlier today at Pinetree CC. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gene Siller’s family and friends,” the association tweeted on July 3.

Siller, 46, leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 6 and 7, according to the Pinetree Country Club.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNN’s Christina Maxouris, Jason Hanna and Gregory Lemos contributed to this report.

source: cnn.com