A 29-year-old panhandler was sentenced Monday to life in prison plus 25 years after a jury found him guilty in the Midtown shooting death of a tourist.
Wanique Odwin was sentenced by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall shortly after a jury found him guilty of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a felony, according to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.
Odwin was convicted of murder in the death of Kashma Avery, 48, of Michigan, and of aggravated assault against 33-year-old Jay Abernathy, who was traveling with Avery.
The incident happened Sept. 2, 2008, in the parking lot of a Shell gas station in the 1100 block of Spring Street, Atlanta, prosecutors said. Avery and Abernathy were lost and had stopped to ask for directions.
Odwin approached Avery and asked for a quarter, prosecutors said. When Avery refused, the defendant became belligerent, continued to harass the tourists and finally pulled out a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Abernathy tried to grab the gun, but Odwin fired and wounded Avery. The victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Odwin fled but was arrested minutes later at a nearby homeless camping area.
The killing came after a 30-day crackdown on panhandling by Atlanta police, prompted by a barrage of complaints from the public, including tourists, the AJC reported at the time.
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