2 men killed in DeKalb convenience store shootings within 4 hours

Police are investigating two shootings at DeKalb County convenience stores that left two men dead Wednesday night.

The first took place just after 6 p.m. at a Citgo gas station near the intersection of North Hairston Road and Central Avenue, DeKalb police said. The man, who was described as about 35 years old, was lying on the ground when officers arrived.

He was shot in his upper torso, police spokesman Sgt. Davin Morgan said.

Investigators were looking for surveillance video that might help provide a good description of the suspect. The motive was unknown, but there was some indication that an altercation may have occurred before the shooting, Morgan said.

Hours later, officers were called to another shooting at the Tic Toc food mart in Stonecrest. Police said 57-year-old Tesfaye Birru, who owned the store, was killed in the shooting, Channel 2 Action News reported.

A man who lives near the Evans Mill Road convenience store told Channel 2 he found Birru’s body just before 10 p.m.

Randall Harris said he has lived in the area for 15 years and regularly frequents the store, which is located south of the I-20 frontage road. Everyone knew Birru as “Boss,” Harris told the news station.

“You ever need anything, you ever didn’t have a means to make a way, he made a way for you,” he said.

Harris believes Birru was targeted. The man was found lying facedown outside the store with a gunshot wound to his head.

Investigators said the shooting is believed to have been the result of a robbery, Channel 2 reported.

“The victim works at the location and appears to have been locking up the location, leaving for the night just before the shooting,” Morgan said.

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