A second man accused in the 2022 shooting death of an Acworth convenience store owner was convicted last week, officials said.
Peterson Paris, 33, was found guilty of murder, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery and aggravated assault on March 1. He will be sentenced at a later date, Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady said in a news release.
Paris’ accomplice, 61-year-old Marcus Bass, was convicted Oct. 6 of three counts of murder, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, plus five years, and is serving his time at Ware State Prison in Waycross.
According to officials, Bass fired the shots that killed Abu Ahammed, but Paris was also involved in the crime on June 14, 2022 at the Kwik E Mart in the 3300 block of Acworth Oaks Drive.
About 20 minutes before the shooting, surveillance footage caught Paris entering the store. Phone records revealed he was speaking on the phone with Bass while inside.
Broady said camera footage then showed Paris meeting Bass near his vehicle that was parked in a nearby lot. Bass walked toward the store with a black ski mask over his head and a firearm in his waistband as Paris repositioned the vehicle, a blue Nissan sedan, to face the farthest exit from the store, authorities said.
Once Bass was inside, Broady said he quickly drew his gun and aimed at the victim. Within 52 seconds, Bass shot at Ahammed, striking him in the chest, according to officials. Bass then moved behind the counter and fired a second shot into Ahammed’s chest, Broady said.
Bass attempted to open the cash register but was unsuccessful and left without anything. He hopped into the getaway vehicle and he and Paris sped away from the scene.
Bass was arrested two days after the shooting while driving the same vehicle used in the crime. Acworth police said they also found a black ski mask and a handgun inside the car.
Paris was arrested just over a week after the incident.
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