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Major break expected in Loganville CVS murder investigation
After five months of silence, investigators are preparing to release what they describe as a "significant update" in the killing of Kimberly Whaley. The case has remained cold since the tragedy occurred at a local CVS Pharmacy on November 14th, leaving the Loganville community searching for answers.
LOGANVILLE, Ga. - A 29-year-old Loganville man is in custody after a months-long multi-agency investigation into the fatal shooting of a CVS employee in a pharmacy parking lot.
What we know:
Loganville police and Gwinnett County SWAT arrested Evander Derrell Choates on Monday morning. He is charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
He is also charged with pointing a pistol at another person. The arrest is in connection with the Nov. 14, 2025, killing of Kimberly Whaley.
What we don't know:
While an arrest has been made, police have not yet identified a motive for the shooting.
Loganville Police Chief Dick Lowry said that, at this point, evidence suggests Whaley and Choates did not know each other.
The backstory:
The shooting happened just before 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the CVS at Highway 78 and Conyers Road. Whaley, 62, was shot in the head and flown to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she later died.
Police detained a person of interest shortly after the shooting but had to release the individual because of a lack of evidence. Over the past few months, investigators executed 24 search warrants and interviewed dozens of witnesses.
What they're saying:
Chief Lowry explained that while police had a suspect in mind early on, they needed more evidence to secure a conviction.
"When we were forced to have to release him the night that this happened, I assure you, none of us were happy about it. There's a big difference in believing someone is guilty or has committed a crime, or even knowing in your heart that that person has committed the crime, and being able to prove it in a court of law," Lowry explained. "And we have to put together a case, particularly a case as heinous as this murder was, and present a case to our district attorney that he can take to a jury. That took a lot of time."
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