A man pleaded guilty Monday to fatally shooting a security guard outside a now-shuttered downtown Atlanta hookah bar in 2022.

Damon John-Michael Wilson agreed to plead guilty to the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the killing of Tyshon Ross, 28, at the Encore Hookah Bar and Bistro on Feb. 2 of that year.

That night, Wilson had been booted out of the Luckie Street bar and got into a fight with Ross outside the building, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Officials did not say why Wilson was kicked out of the venue, but once outside, he shot Ross, prosecutors have contended.

Ross died at Grady Memorial Hospital, and Wilson was arrested nearly two weeks later.

In addition to voluntary manslaughter, he also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, simple battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to Fulton County Superior Court officials.

Wilson was sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Aaliyah Strong, who had been engaged to Ross, told the news station that the trial date had been postponed multiple times.

“If we can make it through this trial and get the verdict that we hope for, that will be a good holiday wish for us,” Strong told Channel 2 on Sunday.

Wilson’s guilty plea was entered just before jury selection was set to begin Monday.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Korri Kesean Jackson (left) and Jalen Leonard Curtis were killed within minutes of each other on April 20, 2023. Jackson had served years in the U.S. Army and the Georgia National Guard. (Courtesy)

Credit: Family photos

Featured

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools