A wallet.

DeKalb County police believe a 23-year-old man's missing billfold led to his death after claiming it was stolen by another man, who responded by shooting him.

James Jones was shot on Sept. 1 in South DeKalb, though details weren’t released until this week after Lavante Gray’s arrest in Ohio.

Police responded to 3612 Salem Glen Road, off Salem Road, just before 7 p.m. and found Jones on the ground near two shell casings.

Detectives determined Jones had accused Gray, 24, of stealing his wallet, prompting Gray to shoot the accuser, said Lt. Lonzy Robertson.

Did Gray also steal the wallet?

“No,” Robertson said, “we have pretty good evidence that Gray didn’t steal the wallet.”

Gray, whose alleged connection to the victim isn’t clear, wasn’t there when police arrived. U.S. Marshals later figured out he was in Ohio.

He was arrested at a home in Middletown on Tuesday and is awaiting extradition to DeKalb, according to WHIO-TV.

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