Tracy Cole Stabbing-Death – In a tragic turn of events, the man accused of fatally stabbing Tracy Cole, the great-nephew of legendary jazz icon Nat King Cole, has been apprehended by the Fairburn Police Department, as confirmed by Atlanta Police to Channel 2 Action News. The incident occurred just after 2 a.m. on Thursday, September 14, in the 300 block of Centennial Olympic Park Drive, where Tracy Cole, 31, sustained multiple stab wounds. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Cole succumbed to his injuries, marking a devastating loss for the Cole family.
Homicide investigators have dispelled the notion that this was a random act of violence, asserting that the victim and the accused, Ricardo Gayle, were known to each other. Tracy Cole, the grandson of Freddy Cole, one of Nat King Cole’s distinguished brothers, was part of a musical lineage that significantly contributed to the world of jazz. Freddy Cole, a celebrated jazz singer and pianist, had himself achieved recognition, being inducted into the Georgia Hall of Fame in 2007. Born in Chicago, Freddy Cole spent the majority of his career in Atlanta and passed away in 2020.
The arrest of Ricardo Gayle brings a degree of closure to the investigation, shedding light on the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Tracy Cole. The family, already coping with the loss of Freddy Cole, must now grapple with another heartbreaking chapter in their legacy, as they come to terms with the loss of Tracy, a talented individual whose life was cut short in a deeply distressing manner.