Police: Homicide victim saved friends

By MEGAN MATTEUCCI

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fulton County police say a 30-year-old homicide victim saved his two friends’ lives during an armed robbery on Old National Highway.

Marcell Lewis, of Lithonia, was shot in the back as he ran away from robbers early Sunday morning.

His friends, who ran the other way from the gunmen, didn’t get a look at the shooters — leaving police with no leads.

On Friday, Fulton County investigators and Lewis’ mother begged witnesses to come forward.

“Marcell easily probably saved the other two’s lives because he ran the other way,” Fulton County Police Det. Terrence Jackson said. “It was instinct for him to do what he did. This young man would have done anything to help anyone and unfortunately this time, he gave his life.”

Last Saturday night, Lewis got his mother, Marlene Condell, a glass of water and tucked her into bed. He then met two friends at a home in the Three Lake subdivision in College Park, police said.

The group was walking down Jerome Road shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday when three unknown men approached.

“One said ‘You know what time it is.’ which is the usual phrase for when you are about to be robbed,” Jackson said.

Lewis immediately sprinted away and yelled for his friends to run. They fled in the opposite direction, Jackson said.

The robbers chased after Lewis and opened fire, striking him in the back, police said. Lewis collapsed moments later behind Aaron’s rental center, according to a police report. He was dead when officers arrived.

“They took nothing, no money, no cell phone. It was senseless,” Condell said Friday as she wiped away tears.

Jackson said other robberies have reported in the area, but this crime appears to be a random attack. The victim and his friends did not have any weapons.

Lewis graduated from Dunwoody High School and has been working to finish his college degree ever since, his mother said. He had to put college on hold several times because of financial problems, but returned after losing his job at Wal-Mart.

Lewis, who lived with his mom and younger sister, was scheduled to graduate from Westwood College in a few weeks with a business management degree. He was supposed to take his final exams this week, his mother said.

“He was going to be the first one in the family to graduate from college,” Condell said.

Condell, who has recently returned to school at the age of 55 to study nursing, will receive her son’s degree.

The mornings are the hardest, Condell said. That’s when she and Lewis, her middle child, would spend a few minutes talking over coffee before they both rushed off to school.

“Whoever is out there, the person who pulled the gun and shot my son in the back, come forward and give me peace,” Condell said. “You shattered his dreams. You shattered the whole family.”

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call detectives at 404-699-4210.

A service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Aug. 7 at Big Miller Grove Baptist Church in Lithonia.

The family is seeking donations for the funeral. Donations for the Marcell Lewis Memorial Account can be left at any Capitol City Bank branch.