It’s been a little more than two weeks since a stray bullet struck and killed John Battle, a 28-year-old father, as he was leaving a Lithonia gas station with his family.
DeKalb County police on Tuesday announced a second arrest has been made in connection with the March 3 shooting death.
Ace Chrishon Benton, 22, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. Police said he confessed to playing a role in the incident and investigators recovered the gun he’s alleged to have used the night of the fatal shooting.
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
Benton remained behind bars Tuesday evening. It was not immediately clear if his bond had been set.
The day after the shooting, police arrested a 14-year-old boy, whose name has not been released because he’s a juvenile. The teen was charged with felony murder and armed robbery in Battle’s death.
The shooting happened around 6 p.m. at a Shell gas station along Covington Highway at the intersection of Wellborn Road. According to a GoFundMe page set up by family members, Battle stopped at the gas station to buy juice.
He was in the car with his girlfriend and his 1-year-old daughter when two groups began feuding, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported previously. Battle and his family were driving away from the gas station when shots rang out and he got caught in the crossfire. Once shot, he crashed into a wood line, police said.
Battle’s daughter and girlfriend were not wounded in the shooting and escaped serious injuries from the wreck. Police stressed that Battle was an innocent bystander.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
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