Police identify gunman killed by sneaker buyer

Authorities have identified the man killed early Saturday while allegedly trying to rob people in line to buy costly sneakers from a Little Five Points boutique.

Sandy Ezzard, 36, died after being shot several times by one of those customers outside the clothing store Wish on Moreland Avenue, DeKalb County Medical Examiners officials said.

About 20 people were waiting in line before 6 a.m. waiting for the store to open in hopes of purchasing a pair of the new $180 LeBron James basketball shoes, the LeBron X EXT.

According to police reports, Ezzard and another person approached the line. Police said Ezzard pulled a handgun on the group and ordered them to “give it up,” and not to move.

That’s when 31-year-old Marvin Lorenzo Jones of Warner Robins drew his own pistol and fired several shots, hitting Ezzard several times, according to police reports.

Ezzard tried to flee but collapsed not far from Wish.

No charges have been filed against Jones, and it is unclear whether he will face any. Jones could not be reached for comment.

Also unclear is what happened to the person who had accompanied Ezzard.

Police continue to investigate.

According to Georgia Department of Corrections and Fulton County jail records, Ezzard has been arrested several dozen times since 1998 and convicted twice on a range of charges including attempting to enter a vehicle, cocaine possession, robbery, making terroristic threats and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.