Medical examiner: Cactus Car Wash robber's death is homicide

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Keary Jackson -- the man who tried to rob the Cactus Car Wash on Ponce de Leon Avenue -- died from mechanical asphyxiation and the incident has been ruled a homicide, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office said Tuesday afternoon.

The mechanical asphyxiation was caused by a lot of pressure on his chest, the medical examiner's office said.

Jackson, 41, died at Grady Memorial Hospital Monday.

He was taken to the hospital after suffering some sort of a medical problem when a group of bystanders thwarted his attempt to steal a money bag from a car wash employee. According to news reports, the people sat on Jackson, holding him down until police arrived.

Exactly what happened is unclear. Police took a surveillance tape from the business, but a spokeswoman told the AJC Tuesday that the incident happened outside and away from any cameras.

Atlanta police officials said in a statement that they do not plan to file charges at this point but added that investigators still need to review the autopsy report.

“The Atlanta Police Department has not reviewed the autopsy report of the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office concerning the death of the suspect in the robbery of the Cactus Car Wash. We will do so, and consult with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the results merit the pursuit of formal charges. At this time, however, the Atlanta Police Department has no plans to pursue charges against anyone involved in the incident.”

According to a person at the business on Tuesday, nearly 30 people witnessed the incident, which happened Monday morning at the busy car wash that sits on a corner where Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward and Midtown neighborhoods meet.

The business is next to what was City Hall East and is across from the restaurant Eats.

According to police, Jackson went to the car wash and tried to steal a money bag from one of the car wash employees as he was leaving the business.

Jackson sprayed the employee who had the money bag -- as well as other workers -- with pepper spray, police said.

He grabbed the money bag and tried to run away, but other employees chased him, police said.

Channel 2 Action News reported that several employees saw the attempted robbery and chased after Jackson, jumping on him and sitting on him until police arrived.

According to police, the man "a short time thereafter became unconscious" and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died.