Gwinnett County police have identified the man found shot dead in a Snellville church parking lot as 28-year-old Oscar Alexis Cruz from Lawrenceville.
What’s Happening: Authorities released the victim’s name after notifying his next of kin, confirming Cruz as the man discovered with a fatal gunshot wound early Monday morning. The shooting took place in the parking lot of Cannon United Methodist Church near the 2400 block of Webb Gin House Road.
Key Details: Officers responded to a person-down call around 6 a.m. and found Cruz dead at the scene, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department’s initial report. Homicide detectives are still canvassing the area, and the crime scene unit continues to collect evidence, but no information on suspects or motives has been shared yet.
The Big Picture: Homicides like this contribute to an uptick in gun-related deaths across Gwinnett County, mirroring national patterns where suburban areas see rising violence tied to factors like easy access to firearms and unresolved community disputes.
How You Can Help: Anyone with details about the shooting should reach out to Gwinnett County Police detectives at 770-513-5300. For anonymous tips that could lead to a cash reward if they result in an arrest and indictment, contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.
The Sources: Gwinnett County Police Department.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
