Man, 23, is charged with murder and kidnapping 'for shooting dead golf pro Gene Siller, 46, and killing two other men' whose bodies were found in the back of a pickup truck at country club in Georgia

Cops have arrested the suspect accused of killing golf pro Gene Siller and two other men at Pinetree Country Club golf course in Georgia last weekend.

Bryan Anthony Rhoden, 23, was arrested in Thursday in the city of Chamblee, more than 25 miles southeast of where the slain men were discovered Saturday, Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox said during a news conference Thursday evening.

Cobb County Police say golf pro Gene Siller, 46, was shot in the head by a gunman at Pinetree Country Club in suburban Atlanta on Saturday after 'witnessing an active crime' unfolding. 

Police who arrived at the scene discovered the bodies of two men, who were from out-of-state, in the back of a pickup truck. 

Rhoden has been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping, Cox said. 

Bryan Anthony Rhoden, 23, was arrested in Thursday in the city of Chamblee, more than 25 miles southeast of where the slain men were discovered Saturday

Siller was director of golf at the club and a married father-of-two. He is survived by his wife Ashley and their two sons, aged 6 and 7

Siller, who was director of golf at the club and a married father-of-two, was not playing at the time but was walking towards the 10th hole after hearing that a white Ram 3500 pickup truck was being driven onto the course by the suspect 

Pinetree reopened the golf course on Wednesday and Siller's widow Ashley laid flowers at the 10th hole where her husband was murdered. The hole will remain closed for play for now, according to the club

Cox described Rhoden as the 'lone shooter' in the slayings but he declined to give further details about what prompted the violence.

'We literally had detectives that have worked around the clock and some have literally slept in their offices since July 3rd trying to clear this case,' Cox said.

Rhoden was arrested by U.S. Marshalls Service's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, WAGA-TV reported. 

Siller, who was director of golf at the club and a married father-of-two, was not playing at the time but was walking towards the 10th hole after hearing that a white Ram 3500 pickup truck was being driven onto the course by the suspect. 

Police believe Siller was shot dead after approaching the truck, which had become stuck in a sand trap. His body was found on the green close to the vehicle when police arrived on the scene. 

The bodies of two other men - Paul Pierson, 76, of Kansas; and Henry Valdez, 46, of California - were then found dumped in the bed of the truck with gunshot wounds.

The truck being driven by the gunman was registered to Pierson.   

Pierson and Valdez were from out-of-state and had no known links to the area or the country club, according to police.  

It is not clear if Pierson and Valdez knew each other. Pierson is believed to have been in Atlanta for business, according to family friends. 

Police in Georgia say pro-golfer Gene Siller (left and right) was not targeted, but was killed for witnessing a crime in progress on Saturday 

Siller leaves behind his wife and two young children (pictured together) 

Siller had only briefly dropped by the course on Saturday to remind staff that the driving range would be used to set off fireworks for July 4. He was director of golf at the Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw

Police have not confirmed if the crime Siller witnessed was the killing of the two men or another offense. Other golfers on the scene recalled hearing five or six gunshots. 

Few details about the investigation have been released by police.

'We are aware that the public has many questions, the most pressing one being why this happened; however, it is too early in the investigation to speculate as to motive,' police said in a statement. 

Pinetree reopened the golf course on Wednesday and Siller's widow Ashley laid flowers at the 10th hole where her husband was murdered, according to 11Alive.  

The hole will remain closed for play for now, according to the club. 

 

Siller had only briefly dropped by the course on Saturday to remind staff that the driving range would be used to set off fireworks for July 4, instructor Corey Evans told The Atlanta Journal Constitution. 

Evans said the club had been 'thriving' under Siller's leadership and had 'the most members the club has ever had.' 

The Georgia State Golf Association paid tribute to Siller, saying: 'All of us at the GSGA are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred earlier today at Pinetree CC. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gene Siller's family and friends.' 

The Georgia PGA also issued a statement offering its condolences on Twitter: 'Tragedy has stricken the Georgia Section PGA in the loss of our Member, Gene Siller. Thoughts and prayers for his family and the Pinetree Country Club family.'

Siller leaves behind his wife and their two young sons aged 6 and 7.

A GoFundMe set up to help support his family had already raised more than $656,000 by Thursday. His funeral has been arranged for next Monday.

Last year, Rhoden was arrested in Indiana after leading cops on a high-speed chase in White and Tippecanoe counties, the Pharos Tribune reported.

He faced a felony charge of resisting law enforcement as well as charges for reckles driving and was released from the White County Jail on a $5,000 bond, the outlet reported at the time.