AUSTELL, Ga. — The Austell railyard killing case moved closer to resolution on the morning of Oct. 15, 2026, when deputies in Florida captured 27-year-old Ty Anthony Thompson, identified by the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit as the third suspect in the September shooting death of 27-year-old Curdravious Clark at a Norfolk Southern rail yard in Austell, Georgia.
TL;DR: Ty Anthony Thompson, 27, was arrested in Escambia County, Florida, on Oct. 15 as the third suspect in the Sept. 14 fatal shooting of Curdravious Clark, 27, at a Norfolk Southern railyard in Austell. He faces felony murder and aggravated assault charges and is awaiting extradition to Georgia. Two suspects arrested Sept. 24 remain jailed without bond.
Featured image credit: Norfolk Southern rail yard at night — Norfolk Southern newsroom (source: https://www.norfolksouthern.com/en/newsroom/story-yard/american-manufacturers-gain-new-ground-by-rail)
A Shooting at the Norfolk Southern Railyard
The case began on the night of Sept. 14, when Austell police officers raced to the Norfolk Southern intermodal facility at 6000 Dr. Luke Glenn Garrett Jr. Memorial Highway SE after reports of a person shot, according to the FOX 5 Atlanta account of the investigation. The call came in around 10:04 p.m.
First responders found Clark suffering from gunshot wounds inside the rail yard property. Paramedics rushed him to Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, where he died. The shooter had already fled the scene in a vehicle, and with the crime scene spanning an industrial rail facility, Austell police asked the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit to take over the investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, nor have they explained how the suspects knew the victim. Those gaps make this one of the more opaque homicide cases in Cobb County this fall.
Two Suspects Were Already in Custody
Thompson is not the first arrest in the case. Around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 24, Major Crimes detectives arrested two men — 28-year-old Keondre Johnson and 26-year-old Michael Riles — in connection with Clark’s death.
Both were charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses and locked up without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, where they remain. The 10-day gap between the shooting and those arrests suggests detectives spent that window building the case through witnesses, surveillance and forensic evidence before moving in.
Thompson’s Capture in Florida
Thompson managed to stay ahead of investigators for more than a month after the shooting, but the trail eventually led detectives to Florida. He was captured in Escambia County — the far western end of the Florida Panhandle — on the morning of Oct. 15.
Police have not revealed what tipped them to Thompson’s location or how long he had been there. Like his two alleged co-defendants, he faces felony murder and aggravated assault charges. He remains in custody in Escambia County while awaiting extradition back to Georgia to face his charges, a process that can take days to weeks depending on whether he contests the transfer.
Questions Still Unanswered
For all the arrests, the core questions remain open. What brought three suspects and a victim together inside a Norfolk Southern rail yard after 10 p.m. on a September night? What was the motive? And who pulled the trigger?
Felony murder charges do not require prosecutors to prove each defendant personally fired the fatal shots — participation in the underlying felony that led to the death can be enough. That legal structure is often how Georgia prosecutors handle group-violence cases where roles are still being sorted out.
Detectives continue to ask anyone with information about case #26059929 to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the third suspect in the Austell railyard killing?
Ty Anthony Thompson, 27, was captured Oct. 15 in Escambia County, Florida, and identified by Cobb County police as the third suspect in the Sept. 14 shooting death of Curdravious Clark.
What charges does Thompson face?
He faces felony murder and aggravated assault. He is being held in Escambia County while awaiting extradition to Georgia.
Who was the victim?
Curdravious Clark, 27, who was shot at the Norfolk Southern railyard in Austell on Sept. 14 and later died at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center.
When and where did the shooting happen?
Around 10:04 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Norfolk Southern railyard, 6000 Dr. Luke Glenn Garrett Jr. Memorial Highway SE, Austell, Georgia. The gunman fled the scene in a vehicle.
Who were the first two suspects arrested?
Keondre Johnson, 28, and Michael Riles, 26, were arrested around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 24 and charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. Both are held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.
Where was Thompson captured?
In Escambia County, Florida, on the morning of Oct. 15 — more than a month after the shooting. Police have not said what led investigators to him.
What is the motive?
Authorities have not disclosed a motive and have not explained how the suspects knew Clark. The investigation is ongoing.
What is the case number and how can I help?
The case is #26059929. Detectives urge anyone with information to contact the Cobb County Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945.
What does a felony murder charge mean?
In Georgia, felony murder applies when a death occurs during the commission of another felony. A defendant can be charged even if prosecutors do not allege he personally fired the fatal shots.
