Authorities are hoping to make extra arrests within the case.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — It was a solemn scene at a DeKalb County gasoline station Saturday night time as family members paid their respects to a 28-year-old man killed in that very same spot only a few days in the past.
This time, as an alternative of automobiles on the pump, the gasoline station was lined with candles, flowers and the like, honoring the lifetime of a father who was killed inside the neighborhood of his younger daughter.
John Battle stopped on the Shell gasoline station alongside Covington Freeway Thursday to purchase some juice, in accordance with police. Battle, his girlfriend, and his one-year-old daughter have been driving away from the Shell gasoline station when a bunch of individuals have been arguing and began capturing at one another. A bullet struck Battle — who was not concerned within the argument — amid the gunfire whereas he tried to drive off, inflicting him to wreck.
Battle died from his accidents. Police mentioned his girlfriend and his daughter have been contained in the car when Battle was shot and killed. They weren’t harm within the capturing and have been additionally not critically harm within the wreck, in accordance with authorities.
Neighborhood members hugged and Battle’s household wiped away tears as they remembered a life gone too quickly. Police mentioned the daddy was an harmless bystander within the incident, and now his mom is urging individuals to cease the violence earlier than one other life is taken.
“I misplaced my son and I do know a whole lot of moms misplaced their youngsters on the highways and byways and nook shops,” she mentioned. “It has to cease. It has to cease. Please cease it. Now I misplaced my child, a great boy — a great American boy.”
One of many males who was concerned within the dispute on the gasoline station was additionally shot. He was taken to the hospital, in accordance with police.
A 14-year-old had been arrested in Battle’s dying. Officers mentioned the teenager will face a homicide cost and armed theft.
Although authorities have made one arrest, they’re nonetheless trying to find the boys seen within the surveillance video. Anybody with further data on the case is requested to name murder detectives at 770-724-7850 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.