A wallet.

DeKalb County police believe a 23-year-old man's missing billfold led to his death after claiming it was stolen by another man, who responded by shooting him.

James Jones was shot on Sept. 1 in South DeKalb, though details weren’t released until this week after Lavante Gray’s arrest in Ohio.

Police responded to 3612 Salem Glen Road, off Salem Road, just before 7 p.m. and found Jones on the ground near two shell casings.

Detectives determined Jones had accused Gray, 24, of stealing his wallet, prompting Gray to shoot the accuser, said Lt. Lonzy Robertson.

Did Gray also steal the wallet?

“No,” Robertson said, “we have pretty good evidence that Gray didn’t steal the wallet.”

Gray, whose alleged connection to the victim isn’t clear, wasn’t there when police arrived. U.S. Marshals later figured out he was in Ohio.

He was arrested at a home in Middletown on Tuesday and is awaiting extradition to DeKalb, according to WHIO-TV.

Like DeKalb County News Now on Facebook | Follow on Twitter

In other news: 

The section includes the CDC, Emory University and Emory Hospital.

About the Author

Keep Reading

A bus waits to move over 20 unhoused persons from the Old Wheat Street encampment to the Welcome House, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC