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.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
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.
