Atlanta police announced Friday that they arrested a second suspect in the Nov. 19, 2017 murder of an northwest Atlanta bar manager, almost a month after the first suspect had been apprehended.
Carlous Bailey, 19, was charged with the armed robbery of the Barcelona Wine Bar and the murder of the bar’s manager, 29-year-old Chelsea Beller, police said. Bailey is being held in the DeKalb County jail on unrelated charges.
According to police, Beller was closing up with other employees at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Nov. 19 when three black males entered the bar to rob it (Surveillance Video). The employees were tied up with electrical tape and Beller was forced at gunpoint to open the safe. After she opened the safe, she was shot in the shoulder. Beller was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“Everyone involved in this case has been affected by the brutality of the crimes against Chelsea Beller and the other employees who were tied up, robbed and terrorized,” Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields said in a statement.
“Our team of Homicide investigators have worked together to get us where we are today in announcing another arrest in the Barcelona Wine Bar case. We knew it was only a matter of time before our efforts paid dividends and another suspect was identified. I am proud of our Officers and Detectives for their relentless pursuit of justice for Chelsea and the other employees. I can assure you we will not rest until all the suspects in this case are in custody.”
Another suspect, Samuel Ott, was apprehended by the Atlanta Police Department’s Fugitive Unit after his DNA was linked to DNA recovered from the crime scene. Police said that Ott was charged with felony murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and aggravated assault and is being held at the Fulton County jail.
A third suspect remains unidentified, according to police. A reward of up to $40,000 has been offered for anyone with information that can lead police to the third suspect. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477). Anyone providing a tip can remain anonymous and will not be required to testify at any point.
