A 62-year-old Covington man accused of shooting and killing a DeKalb County gas station employee Tuesday morning has been arrested.
Jurrell Bethel turned himself in Wednesday and is facing a malice murder charge, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held at the DeKalb jail without bond.
Investigators believe Bethel opened fire on the employee at a Valero gas station on Candler Road following a dispute in the parking lot, police said Tuesday. The victim, identified as Ronald Tyrone Hodge, 65, of Decatur, was shot in the face, sheriff’s office spokesperson Cynthia Williams said in a news release.
No motive was released.
Freddie Searcy, a friend of Hodge’s who works at the same gas station, told Channel 2 that Hodge was “laughing and having fun” just before the shooting.
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide detectives at 770-724-7850. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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