Wilkes County man arrested for Gainesville homeless murder, assaults

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Police have charged a Wilkes County man with felony murder and other charges in connection to multiple assaults on homeless people.<br /> <br /> David William Keener, 50, of Tignall, was charged with one count of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of aggravated battery.<br /> <br /> According to Kevin Holbrook with the GPD, police responded to an unconscious person on the 1400 block of Browns Bridge Road on August 15. <br /> <br /> "The victim in that case, Randall Huling, was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center and during that investigation it was revealed that Huling was homeless and had been assaulted," said Holbrook. "As a result, unfortunately, of his injuries, Huling did die at Northeast Georgia Medical Center."<br /> <br /> During the investigation, it was revealed that Keener may be connected to other assaults on homeless people since 2013. <br /> <br /> "With information developed in the Huling case, investigators were able to charge [Keener] with numerous assault charges," said Holbrook. "At the time of the assaults, it appears Keener was homeless and living in the transient community, with those that he had assaulted." <br /> <br /> Gainesville Police are still seeking more information about assaults on members of the homeless/transient community. Anyone with information should contact Investigator Brad Raper at 770-535-3783 or Investigator Stephen Johnson at 770-535-3035.<br /> <br /> "This case has been one that's been rather difficult, per se," said Holbrook. "The initial call on the 14th of August led us to Keener and then led us to look back at the other assaults that he was responsible for."<br /> <br /> Keener is in the Hall County Jail.<br />