Investigators say a brief gunfight occurred inside the Riverstock Apartments, where an 18-year-old was found shot Monday evening.
WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Police are searching for the person who shot and killed 18-year-old Matthew “Pete” Milner inside his unit at the Riverstock Apartments around 5:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Officers found Milner wounded after a 911 call and he later died at a hospital.
Detectives with the Woodstock Police Department say evidence points to an exchange of gunfire inside the apartment before the shooter fled. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting. Officials have not announced an arrest or publicly identified a suspect. The killing, one of only a handful in the city in recent years, has drawn regional attention and prompted an intensive canvass of the complex along Arnold Mill Road and nearby streets as investigators seek witnesses, video and tips that could identify the shooter and clarify motive.
Capt. Ron Sinfelt said a person entered Milner’s unit shortly before 5:30 p.m., when neighbors reported several gunshots. “I can tell you that we did find a large amount of cash and illegal narcotics in the apartment itself and there’s indication that there was a brief gunfight,” Sinfelt said. Police tape sealed off a section of the building as officers processed shell casings and photographed the doorway where mourners later left flowers and a teddy bear. The complex sits just off Arnold Mill Road, less than a mile from downtown Woodstock. Investigators spent hours interviewing residents who heard the shots or saw someone leaving the area around dusk.
Authorities identified the victim as Milner, 18, and confirmed he lived at the apartment. Officials said he was transported by first responders to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police did not release a description of the shooter or say how many rounds were fired. The department confirmed that state agents are supporting crime scene analysis and canvassing. Detectives are reviewing any building security footage and nearby doorbell videos, and they asked anyone with footage from late afternoon to early evening Monday to come forward. Homicides in Woodstock are uncommon, and the department noted this is among only a few in roughly a decade. The scarcity of such crimes has heightened community concern and urgency to locate the suspect.
Records and earlier statements indicate officers were first dispatched following reports of shots fired from inside the Riverstock Apartments. When they arrived, they found Milner gravely wounded inside his residence. Neighbors told reporters they heard a rapid series of bangs and then silence. Police spent part of the night collecting evidence from inside the unit and the breezeway. While officials acknowledged finding cash and suspected narcotics, they did not say whether the items were linked to the shooting or to any separate investigation. As of Friday, investigators had not detailed a motive. The agency said any conclusions will depend on ballistic testing, phone records, and additional witness statements.
The Riverstock complex is a two-story garden-style property near shops and restaurants along Arnold Mill Road. Longtime residents say the area rarely sees violent crime. City data show only sporadic homicides over the past 10 years. In interviews this week, police emphasized that violent incidents remain rare in Woodstock, even as growth has brought more traffic and new development. The department said patrols were increased around the complex after the shooting to reassure residents and support the investigative team. Officers also visited adjacent buildings to check for stray rounds or property damage, and crime scene technicians mapped interior bullet paths to reconstruct the sequence of gunfire.
Investigators outlined several next steps: complete autopsy results; analyze shell casings and bullets for potential matches in state and federal databases; process fingerprints and any touch DNA recovered from door handles or items left in the apartment; and compile a timeline of Milner’s movements on Monday. Detectives are also obtaining search warrants for phone and social media records, which could reveal contacts or messages tied to the encounter. If a person of interest is identified, police said they would seek an arrest warrant and alert the public. Officials plan to release updates as lab results return and any suspect description can be confirmed. No community alert specifying a vehicle or clothing was issued as of Friday.
By midweek, flowers, a teddy bear and a handwritten note reading “In loving and fond memory” were taped to the victim’s door. Residents described Milner as a familiar face in the breezeway and said they were shocked by the violence. “You don’t expect this here,” said one neighbor who declined to give her name, adding that she heard “three or four pops” before sirens. Another resident said officers asked to view his doorbell camera and checked the breezeway for bullet strikes. “They were very thorough,” he said. Police reiterated that anyone with information can contact detectives as the case remains open.
As of Friday, no arrests had been announced and police had not released a suspect description. Investigators said additional details will be provided when they can be confirmed and when doing so will not jeopardize the case. The next expected update could follow initial lab results and review of surveillance video early next week.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.