Arrest advances murder case in New Year’s Day bar parking lot shooting outside Atlanta club

Suspect taken into custody months after deadly early-morning gunfire

A murder investigation stemming from a New Year’s Day shooting outside a southwest Atlanta bar is moving into the court system after police arrested a suspect nearly three months after the incident.

Atlanta police said 41-year-old Byron Davis was taken into custody on March 18, 2025, in connection with the fatal shooting outside LaCura Bar and Bistro on Metropolitan Parkway SW. The shooting occurred around 3:15 a.m. on January 1, 2025, following a New Year’s celebration that turned violent.

What investigators have said happened

Police have described the incident as beginning with an altercation inside the venue. Security personnel removed individuals involved in a fight, and the dispute continued outside in the parking lot, where gunfire erupted.

Officers responding to the scene found three men suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim, identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner as 28-year-old Kirey R. Thompson of Roopville, later died after being transported to a hospital by friends. Two other men, ages 41 and 48, were taken by emergency medical services to a local hospital for treatment. Police said one of the injured men, who was shot in the leg, worked as a security guard at the bar.

Charges filed and next procedural steps

Davis faces multiple felony counts, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and firearm-related offenses. Police also said he was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

After his arrest, Davis was processed at the Fulton County Jail. The case is expected to proceed through initial court appearances, where a judge will address matters such as bond, formal advisement of charges, and scheduling for future hearings. The investigation has been described as ongoing.

Security questions raised by the setting

The shooting occurred outside a business operating during one of the busiest nightlife periods of the year. The bar’s owner publicly cited multiple security measures in place at the time, including a metal detector, numerous security staff inside the venue, and armed guards in the parking lot.

Even with such measures, incidents that begin as fights inside crowded venues can rapidly shift outside, where visibility, crowd movement, and the presence of vehicles may complicate security response and the preservation of evidence.

Key dates: Shooting occurred January 1, 2025; arrest announced March 18, 2025.

• Location: LaCura Bar and Bistro area on Metropolitan Parkway SW, Atlanta
• Victims: Three men shot; one later died
• Status: Suspect in custody; case moving forward in Fulton County courts