Reward grows after ‘one-in-a-million shot’ kills teacher while driving

Six weeks after a 36-year-old teacher was shot and killed while driving her car, local business owners are upping the reward for information.

Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies are working with the GBI, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to find the killer of Veronique Reaves, who was fatally wounded outside Milledgeville on Ga. 212 Oct. 20.

The bullet traveled through a back tail light, back seat and front seat before striking her on the right side.

“It was a one-in-a-million shot,” sheriff’s Capt. Brad King said Friday. “It most likely came from the passenger side of another vehicle of similar size and height.”

Reaves was behind the wheel of a gray Toyota Camry when she called 911 to report that she was shot by someone in a car behind her about 1:30 a.m. that Friday morning.

Reaves was an adjunct instructor at Central Georgia Technical College and also worked as a hair stylist.

Initially, Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee said she was likely targeted, but at this point in the investigation King is looking at all angles.

“You can never rule out random violence — no tie to the victim, no tie to the area,” King said.

Investigators stopped at homes and businesses along the highway to get copies of any surveillance footage of Reaves and the car following her.

“We have a number of surveillance tapes currently in the custody of the FBI to enhance the footage,” King said.

Forensic crews recovered a projectile and shell casing that is being analyzed to determine if the weapon used is connected to any other crime.

They are also reviewing her cellphone records.

King said they have no evidence that the killing was racially motivated.

“We continue to look at every aspect of this case,” he said.

The reward for information leading to an arrest and prosecution has grown to $20,000 thanks to anonymous donors.

“They just want to be good citizens,” King said.

Anyone with information in the case is urged to call the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at 478-445-4891.

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Reward grows after ‘one-in-a-million shot’ kills teacher while driving."