Police Arrest Teen Jonathan Redding for Bartender Killing

Police made an arrest in the notorious murder of Grant Park bartender John Henderson. Officials identified the suspect as 17-year-old Jonathan Redding.

Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington said it was the work of old fashion shoe-leather detective work and crime lab forensics that produced the break police needed for an arrest.

It has been four months since John Henderson -- a bartender at the Grant Park restaurant Standard Food and Spirits -- was shot and killed during a robbery in southeast Atlanta on January 7.

"They never stopped working hard on this case," said Pennington. "Even though we received hundreds of calls through Crime Stoppers, these officers were able to go out and put this case together based on forensic evidence."

According to Atlanta police, Redding and possibly three other people robbed Standard Food & Spirits after closing – only Henderson and a waitress, Ashley Elder were inside of the business.

Investigators said one of the robbers shot Henderson in the leg and told him to wait with Elder in the backroom where that night's receipts were stored. Police said the robbers took the cash from the backroom, shot Henderson a second time in the upper thigh and headed for the door.

"One of the gunmen turns around and fires multiple shots back into that same office door. It was a wooden door. A round penetrated that door and one of the rounds strikes Henderson in the head, killing him," said one detective.

Police said DNA and ballistics evidence on a gun used in the Standard Food and Spirits shooting and several other crimes linked Redding to the Henderson's death.

Investigators said on December 31, 2008, there was a parking lot robbery at the Standard. Police said Redding fired a round from a gun – no one was injured. They said the same gun was used in the Standard shooting.

Investigator said two days after the Standard shooting, Redding, himself, was shot during a home invasion in southwest Atlanta. Police said Redding was in custody for the home invasion when he was charged with Henderson's murder.

"Blood DNA evidence was collected from Jonathan Redding and compared with blood found at that scene. The comparison revealed that Redding was inside the residence and had possession of the Smith & Wesson handgun," said Pennington.

"It's a little disheartening to see young kids involved in this kind of activity, but most certainly, we're going to do what we can to take them out of our neighborhoods in the city of Atlanta," said Atlanta Police Lt. Keith Meadows.

Police believe the robbers involved with Redding are still in the area. They said investigators need the public's help to capture them.

Henderson's killing drew an outcry from residents and a $50,000 reward. It's the largest reward in the two-year history of the Crimestoppers Atlanta program.