A combination of drugs and money may have led to the robbery and shooting death of a Limestone County man at a home in Athens Tuesday night.

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said Wednesday the investigation into the death of 27-year-old Brenton C. Gatlin remains active. He wouldn’t give specifics about what led up to Gatlin’s death but said the crime began as a robbery.

“The person who died knew the three people (charged),” Johnson said. “Some of this is drug-related. Some of this is money-related. Some of this could be relationship-related.”

The police department received a call about the shooting at 712 Horton St. in Athens shortly before 10 p.m. It is the residence of 27-year-old Kandes Elizabeth Lambert, one of the three people charged in Gatlin’s death.

Johnson did not reveal why Gatlin was at the residence.

When officers and paramedics arrived, they found Gatlin had sustained a gunshot wound. According to court documents, he was shot once as the suspects were “in the course of committing a theft of U.S. currency.” Johnson said a handgun was used in the shooting.

Gatlin was taken by ambulance to Athens-Limestone Hospital, where he later died.

In addition to Lambert, 22-year-old Terry Dale Amerson of 20095 Townsend Ford Road, Athens, and 28-year-old Marty Stafford of 20555 Elkton Road, were arrested. All three suspects were charged with capital murder and first-degree robbery.

The chief wouldn’t speculate on if other charges would be forthcoming.

Johnson said this was the first fatal shooting in the city of Athens this year. He explained the crime shows the type of affect drugs can have on a community.

“We would like to think this doesn’t happen in any community. Athens is a safe town and a good town to live in,” he said. “The two (challenges) facing law enforcement outside budgeting and staffing, if you look at crime, is drugs and mental health. That’s got to be addressed soon.”

Johnson thanked staff members for their “hard work and dedication” in bringing the case to this point.

“Through the night last night and through today, we’ve been continuously working,” he said.