Samuel Landers died because he was driving the wrong car.
Landers, 49, wanted to buy some marijuana, and when he drove his Chevrolet El Camino to meet his dealer, he wound up slumped in the car seat with a bunch of bullets inside him. He was killed because the man who was going to sell him drugs decided to steal his car instead, a Fulton County jury decided.
On Wednesday, a jury found Demarcus Graves guilty of murder in the September 2006 killing at the Colony Square Apartments, according to the Fulton County District Attorney's office. Last year, another man, Jasper Adams, pleaded guilty to lesser charges of aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery in the case.
The killing occurred because Graves also owned an El Camino and decided that he wanted Landers' car so he could strip out the engine, according to Yvette Brown, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Paul Howard.
When Landers pulled up, Graves and Adams decided to rob him. When Adams got into the car and pointed a gun at Landers, a struggle ensued. Graves then reached into the car, grabbed the gun and fired eight times at Landers, authorities said.
The pair fled, leaving Landers to die.
Eyewitnesses and tipsters led police to Graves and Adams.
Adams pleaded guilty in January 2010 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Graves, who was convicted of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and weapons charges, was sentenced by Fulton Superior Court Judge Marvin Arrington to life in prison plus five years.
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