Police seeking new leads after guard shot, killed at Stonecrest car dealership

DeKalb County police were called around 11 p.m. Saturday to the Courtesy Chrysler Dodge dealership on Mall Parkway after a security guard was shot. He was taken to a hospital and later died. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

Credit: John Spink

Credit: John Spink

DeKalb County police were called around 11 p.m. Saturday to the Courtesy Chrysler Dodge dealership on Mall Parkway after a security guard was shot. He was taken to a hospital and later died. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

DeKalb County police are asking the public for help in identifying and locating five suspects in the fatal shooting of a security guard at a car dealership near the Mall at Stonecrest on Saturday night.

Officers found 24-year-old Henry Ashley, who worked as a security guard at the Courtesy Chrysler Dodge dealership at 8455 Mall Parkway, with a gunshot wound around 11 p.m., a DeKalb police spokesperson said.

Ashley was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Investigators determined Ashley was investigating a suspicious person alert on the property when he encountered a group of suspects, according to a news release. Moments later, he was shot while in his marked work vehicle.

In a still of security camera footage released by police, at least five suspects can be seen walking through the dealership’s parking lot in front of a row of vehicle service doors. None of the suspects has been arrested, the news release states.

A still of security camera footage released by DeKalb police shows at least five suspects walking through the Courtesy Chrysler Dodge car dealership's parking lot.

Credit: DeKalb County Police Department

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Credit: DeKalb County Police Department

In an interview with Channel 2 Action News, the victim’s wife said she had been on the phone with him just minutes before the shooting.

“I have to stay strong for my son,” Kyla Rushton said through tears. “He lost his daddy. I hope whatever they wanted here was more important than his life. I hope they got what they wanted — taking a husband, a son, a father, a brother so young. We were planning on buying a house this summer. That was our first time we were able to do this, and then it all got ripped away in a matter of moments.”

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A phone operator at the dealership Monday said the business would not comment on the incident and declined to provide the name of the security company for which Ashley worked.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call detectives at 770-724-7850 or to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta by calling 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website. Tipsters may be eligible to receive up to a $2,000 reward.

February 21, 2022 Stonecrest: Courtesy Chrysler Dodge dealership near the Stonecrest mall was back open on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022 as DeKalb County police are investigating after a security guard was shot and killed at the car dealership near the Mall at Stonecrest on Saturday night, officials said. Officers were called around 11 p.m. to the area of 8455 Mall Parkway, DeKalb police spokesperson Michaela Vincent said. They found Henry Ashley, who worked as a security guard at the Courtesy Chrysler Dodge dealership near the mall, with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Investigators determined Ashley, 24, was investigating a suspicious person alert on the property when he encountered a group of suspects, according to a news release. Moments later, he was shot while in his marked work vehicle. In a still of security camera footage released by police, at least five suspects can be seen walking through the dealershipÕs parking lot. No suspects have been arrested, the news release states. Police are asking the public for help in identifying the five suspects. In an interview with Channel 2 Action News, the victimÕs wife said she had been on the phone with him just minutes before the shooting. ÒI have to stay strong for my son,Ó Kyla Rushton said. ÒHe lost his daddy. I hope whatever they wanted here was more important than his life.Ó Police searching for 5 suspects after 24-year-old security guard shot, killed at car dealership Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call detectives at 770-724-7850 or to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta by calling 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website. Tipsters may be eligible to receive up to a $2,000 reward. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

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Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

February 21, 2022 Stonecrest: Willie Kelsey with Enforcement security (right) came to the dealership on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022 to inquire about doing security for the dealership after hearing about the shooting death of a guard there over the weekend. DeKalb County police are investigating after a security guard was shot and killed at a car dealership near the Mall at Stonecrest on Saturday night, officials said. Officers were called around 11 p.m. to the area of 8455 Mall Parkway, DeKalb police spokesperson Michaela Vincent said. They found Henry Ashley, who worked as a security guard at the Courtesy Chrysler Dodge dealership near the mall, with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Investigators determined Ashley, 24, was investigating a suspicious person alert on the property when he encountered a group of suspects, according to a news release. Moments later, he was shot while in his marked work vehicle. In a still of security camera footage released by police, at least five suspects can be seen walking through the dealership’s parking lot. No suspects have been arrested, the news release states. Police are asking the public for help in identifying the five suspects. In an interview with Channel 2 Action News, the victim’s wife said she had been on the phone with him just minutes before the shooting. “I have to stay strong for my son,” Kyla Rushton said. “He lost his daddy. I hope whatever they wanted here was more important than his life.” Police searching for 5 suspects after 24-year-old security guard shot, killed at car dealership Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call detectives at 770-724-7850 or to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta by calling 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website. Tipsters may be eligible to receive up to a $2,000 reward. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

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Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC