Repo man's accused killer denied bond

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Fulton judge declined to set bond for a man accused of killing a tow truck driver as he repossessed a  2004 Ford Mustang last month.

Justin Moore, 29, is charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a crime and running from police. Moore was arrested Nov. 17, six days after Brandon Thomas, 27, was fatally shot and Willie Thackston, 36, was wounded, allegedly by buckshot fired from Moore’s shotgun.

Judge Karen Woodson’s announcement that Moore would remain in jail brought cheers from Thomas’ friends and relatives – some of them wearing black t-shirts with “recovery agent” printed on the back and a memorial to Moore printed on the front.

Moore is to appear in court again on Dec. 30 for a status hearing.

According to Fulton County police detective J. Cheeks, who testified Wednesday, Moore’s wife said she told her husband someone was at the door and there was a tow truck outside.

Cheeks said Moore was already $1,300 behind in his car payments.

But Cheeks said Moore claimed he thought someone was stealing his car. He retrieved a shotgun and the keys to a van he had driven home from work and set out to stop the men he said were car thieves.

Moore said the shotgun accidentally discharged when his van collided with the tow truck, Cheeks said.

Thomas, of Kennesaw, was driving and Thackston was in the passenger seat.

Once the truck stopped, Moore pointed the gun at Thackston's head and ordered him to take his car off the truck, police said.

Moore drove the van home and then ran back up the street to retrieve the Mustang, police said. Fulton police began chasing Moore shortly after 1 a.m. but backed off once in Clayton County when their speed hit 150 mph.

The Mustang was later found abandoned.

Police captured Moore on Dec. 17 when he was spotted in DeKalb County in a car with a childhood friend.