Golf pro killed at country club was not the intended target

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — UPDATE: Cobb County police have announced an arrest in the case. Bryan Rhoden is being charged with three counts of murder, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping.

ORIGINAL STORY JULY 6

Police are releasing new information about a shooting at a Cobb County country club over the weekend.

Gene Siller was shot and killed at the Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw Saturday afternoon. Siller was the Director of Golf at the club and a father to two young children.

Police said Siller was not targeted but instead came across a crime in progress happening on the golf course.

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Investigators say a white pickup truck drove onto the 10th hole Saturday around 2 p.m. The suspect was driving the truck and there were two dead bodies in the truck bed, according to police. Siller was shot in the head on the 10th green.

“Detectives have learned that Mr. Siller happened upon a crime in progress involving the unknown suspect and the two deceased males who were found in the pickup truck. It does not appear Siller was in any way targeted, but rather was killed because he witnessed an active crime taking place,” police said Tuesday.

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The two other victims who were found in the truck, Paul Pierson, 76, and an unidentified man, appear to have no relation to the location.

As of Tuesday night, the Cobb County Medical Examiner was still working to identify the second man found in the truck.

Pinetree Country Club is scheduled to reopen Wednesday morning, but the 10th hole will remain closed in memory of Siller. Those playing on the course will skip from the 9th hole to the 11th hole.

A memorial has been set up on the green of the 10th hole where anyone can pay their respects, whether playing the course or not.

Authorities are continuing to investigate this case.

Anyone with information about this active investigation is asked to contact our detectives at 770-499-4111 or at cobbpolicecrimetips@cobbcounty.org.

A GoFundMe set up for the family of Gene Siller has raised more than a half million dollars.

Two more bodies found in country club golf course shooting that killed Cobb man Cobb County police are investigating a triple homicide at a country club Saturday afternoon.

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