A Covington man was killed early Sunday morning and four men are being held in connection with his death.

Officers were called to a home on West Street around 11:49p.m. Saturday. When they arrived they found 59-year-old Fred Layne Beeler on a couch in the living room. It appeared he had been struck several times in the head. Beeler was transported to Atlanta Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.

Detectives with the Covington Police Department and agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested 21-year-old Shane Deforest Winter of Conyers, 19-year-old Justin Lee Bennett of Conyers, 21-year-old Preston Ranard Mayson of Jonesboro and 17-year-old Shavarious Jawan Moses of Jonesboro and charged each with murder, armed robbery and burglary.

According to Captain Ken Malcom with the Covington Police Department, at least two of the men charged knew of the victim, but they had no personal relationship with him. He also said the killing was not drug-related.
"This is a man who ran a legitimate business and had a legitimate income, but who was known to carry cash on his person," said Malcom.