Lawrenceville Man Wanted in Murder of Wife Arrested

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Lawrenceville police said they have arrested a man wanted in the murder of his wife. 

According to police, Sheldon Soyer, 43, shot and killed his Vanessa Soyer inside their apartment on Windy Hill Point on Monday. Lawrenceville police responded to a 911 call at the Greens at Hillcrest Apartments. When they arrived they discovered the body of Soyer in an upstairs room of her home.

Neighbor Fatimah Howard consoled the couple's young son, who witnessed the deadly shooting.

"He ran to me and hugged me and said Ms. Fatima he did it in front of me and I was like no oh God no he did what no", said Howard.

As Lawrenceville police converged on the Greens at Hillcrest Apartments to search for Sheldon Soyer, who fled on foot, authorities at nearby Georgia Gwinnett College put the campus on lockdown, notifying students and faculty via social media that a violent crime had occurred nearby, and to shelter in place.

Classes were canceled Monday as the search continued for Soyer. 

"We thought the shooting was on campus and we came here and they said someone was shot they're still on the loose," said student Miles Tate.

Investigators worked through the afternoon gathering evidence at the complex, and actively searching for the suspect, police issuing a warrant for Soyer's arrest.

Neighbors said the Soyers seemed happy, and that Mrs. Soyer had just returned home from a trip to New York. But Tammi Burns, whose daughter dates one of the Soyers' sons, said all was not as it seemed that the couple was separating.

"They've been together for 20 years and they were in the process of breaking up, and I guess he lost it, I guess that's basically what happened that he lost it," said Burns.

Police announced Tuesday morning Soyer was located in a wooded area near the intersection of Sugarloaf Parkway at Old Norcross Road.