ATLANTA — A 33-year-old music producer and DJ was fatally shot during an attempted robbery at a southwest Atlanta apartment complex, leaving his family and friends mourning a man they describe as full of energy, creativity and love for music.
Tarris Caswell was killed Aug. 21 at the Villages of Castleberry Hill on McDaniel Street, according to police and reports from the scene. Atlanta police continue to investigate the shooting, and no arrest had been announced as of the latest available update.
Caswell’s family says he was in Atlanta pursuing his work in music and was picking up people connected to the industry when the shooting happened.
What happened on McDaniel Street
Police were called to the apartment complex in the early morning hours of Aug. 21 after reports of gunfire. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that officers responding shortly before 1:40 a.m. found a man suffering from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle at the property.
Caswell’s mother, Leslie McCalla, later said her son had been with a colleague when an armed man approached them. According to McCalla, the gunman robbed the colleague of a Rolex watch before Caswell was shot.
Police have not publicly identified a suspect in the killing, and investigators have not announced an arrest.
The shooting happened at the same apartment complex where gunfire had been reported the previous day. Authorities had responded to the property on Aug. 20 after shots were fired, with reports indicating that vehicles and apartment units were damaged.
Family remembers Caswell as a music lover
For McCalla, the loss is difficult to reconcile with the person she knew.
She described her son as outgoing, cheerful and deeply committed to music. When he wasn’t working in the studio, she said, he preferred spending time at home.
“He was just the life of the party,” McCalla told. “He had so much energy.”
Caswell’s family says music was central to his life. A family fundraiser created after his death describes him as a producer and DJ who traveled, toured and built friendships through his work in music. The fundraiser also says Caswell was born in Newport, Rhode Island, raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and most recently lived in Atlanta.
His family is now making arrangements to return his remains to Rhode Island for his funeral.
Family asks for help finding the shooter
McCalla said her family’s immediate priorities are making funeral arrangements and helping investigators find whoever was responsible for her son’s death.
She also urged anyone who knows anything about the shooting to come forward.
Atlanta police have asked people with information to contact Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can provide information anonymously.
As the investigation continues, police have not publicly released a suspect’s name or confirmed whether a suspect has been identified.
The circumstances surrounding the robbery remain under investigation, including what led to the confrontation and whether Caswell and the other victim were specifically targeted.
For Caswell’s family, however, the investigation is personal. They are left remembering a son whose life centered on music, his family and the people around him while waiting for answers about why he was killed.
