Acting beyond his jurisdiction led to devastating consequences for a DeKalb County security guard and the unarmed teen he allegedly fatally shot Saturday night.
Ervin Jefferson, 18, was with his mother and sister when the family pulled into their driveway off Pleasantwood Drive and noticed two vehicles parked in front.
Inside one car were four females out to settle a score with Jefferson's 17-year-old sister, Precious, DeKalb County police said. In the other, according to police, were security guards Curtis Scott and Gary Jackson, employed by the Village at Wesley Chapel Apartments a few hundred yards away.
Jefferson's mother, Candy Grimes, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution her son went over to investigate. Within seconds, he was felled by a single gunshot to the torso from Scott, who claimed Jefferson approached him in an aggressive manner.
DeKalb Public Safety Director William Miller said the 18-year-old "possibly threatened to kill" the guard.
Scott has not been charged in the shooting, but police are still investigating.
Among other unanswered questions: Why did Scott and Jackson feel compelled to investigate a car parked off site that seemingly posed no threat to the property they were hired to protect?
The two guards work for Shepperson Security & Escort Services in Kennesaw. Shepperson officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Ben Maner, owner of Guardian Protection Services in Atlanta, said, "I tell my people if they're on the property to stay on the property. Unless it's something like a murder or rape, it's not your place to intervene. That's not your job."
Maner said it was also unusual for the guards to be armed, considering where they worked. Usually, he said, if apartment complexes feel the need for armed security, they'll look to law enforcement personnel, offering them a rent-free residency in exchange for protecting the property.
It's unclear whether The Village at Wesley Chapel wanted armed guards. A leasing officer referred questions to Jamco Properties, the property manager. Officials with Jamco have not responded to repeated calls seeking comment.
Shepperson has a current state license to operate.
Scott, 25, is legally licensed to work as an armed security guard with Shepperson Security, according to online records from the Georgia Secretary of State. His license to work as an armed security guard with a previous employer had expired.
That license is different than a gun permit a private citizen obtains to carry a weapon for personal protection, said Steve Lindsey, executive director of the state’s Professional Licensing Boards Division.
Lindsey explained that the state-issued license allows armed guards to carry a weapon solely to and from work, during work and at their specific post. It does not permit them to carry a weapon at all hours.
Scott and Jackson, 26, have been released from DeKalb jail, where they were being held on charges of impersonating a police officer. Police say they illegally detained the young women in the "suspicious" vehicle.
Jefferson's stepfather, Bobby Hubbard Jr., 35, was also arrested. He was charged with reckless conduct and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Police said he fired at the guards after Jefferson was shot.
Jefferson's mother said her son's funeral is set for Saturday, and she hopes by then police will charge Scott in his death.
"He was just trying to protect his sister," Grimes said, "and they killed him for it."
--Staff writer Katie Leslie contributed to this article.
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