MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — We're following up on some of the unsolved homicides in Baldwin County and Milledgeville.
We recently told you that the Baldwin County NAACP chapter held a public forum about the killings.
The sheriff's department says they currently have eight unsolved homicides and city police have six.
13WMAZ’s Jessica Cha spoke with the police department Monday about one of those cases.
Police Chief Dray Swicord says that this is the oldest unsolved homicide that he knows about. Diquan Key was just 21 years old when he was shot and killed outside of Soul Masters Barbeque and Lounge on North Glynn Street.
He was found dead in the road.
"That's the hardest day of my life,” says Dermetrics Warren, Key’s mom.
She says her son was always kind, funny, and loved his family. However, when she got the phone call about his death, she says her life has never been the same.
"When I got the call, my body went numb. I could see myself running out the door, but I was in one spot,” she says. “You know, to have a child taken from you -- your kids are supposed to bury you, you're not supposed to bury them.”
Ricky Jackson is Key's great uncle and says he watched him grow up.
“It’s very hurtful. It’s senseless killing as far as I’m concerned,” he says.
Jackson says when he heard about what happened to Key, it was hard to believe until he saw Key’s body.
"He didn't get a chance to experience life. He didn't get to live his life,” Jackson says.
He says after seven years, his doubts about the case being solved get stronger.
"Pray for closure to the family. I think every family needs closure.”
Detective Michael McLeroy took over Key’s case from the previous investigator last March. He says officers responded to shots at the Soul Masters Barbeque and Lounge at 2 a.m. on June 14, 2015.
"Three people had been shot and one male, known as Mr. Key was deceased at the location,” he says.
McLeroy says it's been hard getting information from possible witnesses who are afraid of retaliation.
"Based on initial investigations, it shows that multiple subjects shot at a crowd that was exiting the location at the time, and it appeared to be gang-motivated,” he explains, so with people coming forward, it’s not likely.”
McLeroy won't say if they have suspects, or how they've investigated. He says that very little information about what’s happened in the case has come in over the years. However, Major Etta Gray says they're still working hard.
"As long as breath is in our body, we're gonna work these cases until we get justice for these cases,” she says.
Gray says that there is an investigator assigned to each and every unsolved case. She says these cases affect them.
“I grew up in some of these cases. I know them personally, I know their family’s personally, and I take it personally. We have to take this home with us, but we’re never going to stop until we find out who did it,” Gray explains.
Warren says if you have information on Diquan's death, please speak up.
"I pray that someone speaks up and comes forward. It's been a lot of years and I'm ready to put my son's soul to rest,” Warren says.
If you have any information about Diquan Key's case, The Milledgeville Police have an anonymous tip line: (478) 414-4413.
They offer a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the killer.