An argument that started over a vehicle part erupted into deadly gunfire Thursday afternoon at a Clayton County auto parts store, police said.
When officers arrived at the O’Reilly Auto Parts location on Ga. 85 near Riverdale about 12:30 p.m., they found Willie Heath III suffering from a gunshot wound, Clayton police spokesman Officer Jordan Parrish said in a news release. After being administered first aid at the scene, the 25-year-old was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Investigators said the man had been arguing with Raheem Titre inside the store.
“As time progressed, the argument escalated, at which time Mr. Titre responded by drawing his handgun and shooting Mr. Heath,” according to the release.
Titre, 26, of Riverdale, fled the scene after the shooting, police said, but officers quickly located him and placed him under arrest. He is charged with malice murder, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime and reckless conduct.
He remained in the Clayton jail without bond Friday.
Channel 2 Action News talked with Heath’s family, who said Titre was an O’Reilly employee from another location and went to the Riverdale store to deliver batteries. Heath’s mother, Angelic, and father, Willie Heath Jr., said they were told their son ran outside as Titre shot at him through a window, then fired several more times outside the store.
Police did not confirm that account, but photos from the scene showed shattered glass outside the front of the store.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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