2 in shootout near CAU now charged in Smyrna murder

By STAFF REPORT

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two men involved in a shootout with Clark Atlanta University police near campus July 8, have been charged with murder of a Smyrna man the previous month.

Police have charged Matthew Wells, 18, and Curtis Diego Billings, 28, both of Atlanta with felony murder, murder, aggravated assault, and burglary.

They are accused of killing Joe Allen Gunn, 54, at his residence at Highlands View Place in Smyrna while breaking into Mr. Gunn’s vehicle, June 21.

Smyrna police say Wells and Billings The suspects then fled the area with Gunn’s .38 caliber revolver handgun.

On July 8, Clark Atlanta University police saw Wells and Billings armed in an area off campus but within the campus police’s jurisdiction.

Wells complied with their demands to drop his weapon, but Billings fired his. The campus police officers shot back, wounding Billings.

According to investigators, the weapon used in the Clark Atlanta shooting incident is believed to be the weapon stolen from Gunn; however, confirmation is pending ballistics testing.

Wells is in the Fulton County Jail. Billings is presently in custody with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at Grady Hospital where he is recovering from injuries sustained with the Clark Atlanta incident.

Gunn who taught at Chattahoochee Tech, was shot and killed after confronting thieves trying to break into his truck, which was parked outside his Smyrna townhouse.

Hours later, when detectives left Wells alone in an interrogation room at APD headquarters, the teenage suspect walked out unnoticed. Surveillance cameras captured images of Well getting onto an elevator, taking it to the ground floor and leaving the building.

Police found Wells several hours later at his girlfriend’s house.

APD is investigating the circumstances that allowed Wells to get away.