Attempting to deck the halls with boughs of mistletoe landed a Decatur man in jail Sunday, police said.

According to a DeKalb police report obtained by the AJC, William E. Robinson, 66, was using a double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun to shoot non-homegrown holiday decor out of trees at North DeKalb Mall.

Drug or alcohol use is not suspected, police said.

A motorist saw Robinson shooting into trees near the Applebee's restaurant on Lawrenceville Highway at about 5:30 p.m. and beeped his horn at the man to get him to stop.

Robinson continued to collect mistletoe, a parasitic plant that grows high in hardwood trees. The motorist followed Robinson to a Citgo station on Scott Boulevard, where police apprehended him.

Robinson, according to the police report, expressed surprise at his arrest for reckless conduct and discharging a weapon. He told police he gathers mistletoe every year in a similar fashion, but not usually at the mall. He remained in the DeKalb jail Monday night on a total $1,000 bond.

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC