On Monday night, a DeKalb County murder suspect walked into the Lawrenceville Police Department to report his passport missing. Authorities believe he didn't realize he'd left it at the scene of a shooting.
Officers arrested Sanjay Stewartson, 28, of Lithonia, when they realized he was wanted in a May 8 homicide, Channel 2 Action News reported. The shooting happened at about 10:30 a.m. at a shopping plaza on Covington Highway, half a mile from Lithonia High School.
In the Lawrenceville station, Stewartson told an officer he needed to get a police report for the missing passport, which he thought he’d lost at a Gwinnett County Walmart, so he could order a replacement. He and his wife were hoping to go on vacation, Stewartson said.
The cop noticed he was sweating profusely, and his hands were shaking.
Police said that’s what led them to investigate Stewartson. After realizing the man was wanted, an officer informed him of the warrant and arrested him.
According to that warrant, DeKalb investigators believe Stewartson fought with the victim — a man whose identity remains unknown — and shot him twice. Stewartson is accused of dropping the passport and cell phone while running away.
The photo on the passport allegedly matched the description a witness gave police. The cell phone contained text messages that detectives believe show Stewartson arguing with the victim over marijuana and threatening him.
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