Atlanta Police arrest man suspected of murder in Cobb

Thanks to quick thinking by Atlanta Police, a man wanted on suspicion of murdering a woman at a Kennesaw extended-stay motel was arrested. Police body cameras caught the arrest of Ulysses Grant Gatling, of Marietta, on the pathway near The King Center. 

Cobb Police say Gatling is a suspect in the murder of 31-year-old Jalin Belton. Belton was found dead in a room at the InTown Suites Extended Stay on Barrett Creek Parkway near Town Center Mall. Cobb officials say Belton died from injuries inflicted from an “edged weapon.”

At around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Cobb County police sent a notice to Atlanta police to be on the lookout for a suspect wanted for murder and aggravated assault in an Oct. 18 murder who might be in the city. Atlanta bicycle patrol officers recognized Gatling as a man they saw earlier that morning in the area of the King Center. Responding to the Cobb Police advisory, the bicycle patrol officers rode back to King Center and located Gatling walking in the area. Police body camera footage shows the officers approaching the suspect and handcuffing him.

Atlanta Police had the suspect in custody without incident within 20 minutes of getting the advisory from Cobb Police. On social media, Atlanta Police officials described the run-in with Gatling “almost serendipitous,” saying the arrest shows how important law enforcement partnerships are and shows how the awareness the officers had was crucial to apprehending Gatling.

Gatling is being held at the Cobb County jail without bond, on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and murder.