An Atlanta man who aspired to be an actor is now accused in the shooting deaths of two homeless men and a Cobb County hairstylist, according to police. And it was his attempt to avoid paying his MARTA fare that led to his arrest.
Police in Atlanta and Decatur released few details Friday afternoon, but both agencies have charged Aeman Lovel Presley with murder.
Atlanta police previously said the deaths of the two homeless men were connected. On Friday, Decatur police confirmed the same suspect is also accused of killing Karen Pearce, whose body was found in downtown Decatur.
Presley, 34, was charged with two counts of murder for the Nov. 23 shooting death of Dorian Jenkins and the Nov. 26 shooting death of Tommy Mims, also known as “Can Man,” according to Sgt. Greg Lyon with Atlanta police. Presley was denied bond at his first court appearance Friday and will remain in the Fulton County jail at least until his next court appearance, scheduled for Dec. 26, according to a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office.
Presley was apprehended by MARTA police Thursday morning after officers saw him enter the fare gates without paying by following a customer ahead of him at the Georgia State rail station. He resisted arrest and was placed on the ground and put in handcuffs, MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris said in a release Friday afternoon.
A loaded revolver and a box of ammunition were found in Presley's possession. Atlanta police on Wednesday said a .45/.410 revolver – either a Taurus "Judge" or a Smith & Wesson "Governor" – was used in the shootings of Jenkins and Mims.
MARTA police charged Presley with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, obstruction and fare evasion. He was taken to the Fulton County Jail for processing.
Decatur police have charged Presley with murder in connection with Pearce’s death, according to Sgt. Jennifer Ross.
“We are actively working with multiple agencies at this time and cannot provide any further information that may jeopardize ongoing investigations,” Ross said in an emailed statement late Friday afternoon.
Pearce, 44, of Smyrna, worked full time at True Salon off Dallas Highway and had gone back to school to study nursing. Her body was spotted over the weekend behind One Decatur Town Center by someone leaving a nearby parking deck, Decatur police said.
Presley was previously represented by an Atlanta talent agency, a spokeswoman said late Friday. Several years ago, Presley starred in two short action movies, according to www.imdb.com. Presley's criminal history includes a conviction in Rockdale County for terroristic threat and acts and criminal damage. He was sentenced to probation.
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