DNA Testing Leads to Murder Charges in 2020 Norcross Cold Case

NORCROSS, Ga. – A DeKalb County man has been charged with murder in the 2020 shooting death of 21-year-old Tyler Hall after advances in DNA testing helped investigators identify a suspect, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Rashad Jackson, 27, faces charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Jackson is already incarcerated with the Georgia Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.

Hall was found shot to death inside his Norcross home on Aug. 30, 2020. The Norcross Police Department asked the GBI’s Atlanta Regional Investigative Office to assist with the investigation.

Investigators continued working the case for years without an arrest.

In February 2024, the GBI Cold Case Unit partnered with Othram Inc., a forensic DNA laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, to conduct advanced DNA testing on evidence from the investigation.

The GBI said investigators used advances in DNA analysis to develop new information that ultimately identified Jackson as a suspect. The agency did not disclose what DNA evidence was recovered, how it was connected to the crime scene or what investigators believe led to Hall’s killing.

More than six years after Hall’s death, the GBI announced Jackson’s arrest and charges on Sept. 17.

The investigation has involved the GBI Atlanta Regional Investigative Office and Cold Case Unit, Norcross police, Georgia Department of Corrections, DeKalb County police, Emory Healthcare Public Safety and the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.

The charges are accusations, and Jackson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Anyone with information about Hall’s death can contact the GBI Office of Special Investigations at 404-239-2106 or submit an anonymous tip at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).