Police, GBI investigate homicide in Commerce

Police in Commerce have identified a person of interest in a Sunday shooting at a fast food restaurant on Homer Road. 72 year-old Calvin Varnum was shot and killed. 23 year-old Xavier Clark, initially identified as a person of interest, is in the Jackson County jail on a murder charge. The GBI is in on the ongoing investigation.

From WSB TV…

Police said a person of interest has been named in the shooting death of a man outside a Hardee’s restaurant Sunday morning.

Detectives say they are looking for Xavier Clark.

He’s wanted for questioning as a person of interest. He is 23 years old and was last seen driving a Blue Dodge Journey with GA tag CKP9568.

Commerce Police Department said Calvin Varnum died after someone shot him outside the Hardee’s at around 7:30 am. He died in the hospital.

“Everybody in this community knew about him,” said Larosa Calloway, Varnum’s cousin.

Calloway said her cousin was 72 years old and he had special needs. She said he would often fill his time by waving and smiling at drivers passing the Hardee’s where he would get breakfast in the morning.

“He’d throw up his hand, waving to everybody,” said Calloway.

Chief of Commerce Police Ken Harmon said that’s what Varnum was doing Sunday morning when someone drove up to him and shot him multiple times.

Harmon called in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to help investigate, and agents spent more than 10 hours gathering evidence around the restaurant.

“Know that we’re doing everything that we can with our partners at GBI to find the person who’s done this for multiple reasons. One, for public safety, so we can all rest easy, but also so we can seek justice for Calvin. He was an interesting guy. He was a good guy,” said Chief Harmon.

Strangers packed the Hardee’s parking lot Sunday evening to build a memorial in honor of Varnum. They walked to the street and waved to commemorate the man that they say brought so much joy to so many.

“The man’s never hurt a living soul,” said Cameron Boswell.

Boswell started raising funds Sunday and pooled together more than $10,000 for a cash reward to the person who leads police to the suspected killer.

He also started a fund to help the family with funeral expenses.

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