Man charged with murdering repo man pleads not guilty

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An accused killer charged with murdering a man who was repossessing his Ford Mustang entered a not guilty plea Monday and a bond hearing was scheduled for March 1.

Enlarge photo

John Spink, jspink@ajc.com Justin Moore (left) and his lawyer, Ted Price listen as the hearing begins Monday.

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Justin Moore, shackled and wearing a jail jumpsuit, was in Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger’s courtroom for only a few minutes Monday. It was just long enough for his lawyer to enter a plea and for prosecutor Clint Rucker to announce his plans to turn over evidence to the defense attorney.

Moore, 30, was indicted Feb. 5 on eight felonies, including murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and theft by receiving.

According to police, Brandon Thomas, 27, of Kennesaw, and Willie Thackston, 36, of Rydal, were at Moore’s house near the Fulton-Fayette County line around 1 a.m. on Nov. 11 to take Moore’s gray 2004 Mustang. They had already loaded the car onto the tow truck when a shot was fired.

Moore, according to police, chased the tow truck, driving a van assigned to him by his employer. After catching up with Thomas and Thackston a short distance from his house, Moore fatally shot Thomas and seriously wounded Thackston, police said.

Moore then unloaded his Mustang and fled, with police chasing him into Clayton County, according to reports.

Police backed off the chase when their speeds hit 150 mph, but the car was later found abandoned.

Moore was arrested five days later when he was spotted with a childhood friend driving in DeKalb County. Moore bailed out of the car and ran, but police caught him moments later in a nearby creek bed.