An East Point man was killed early Friday after he tried to stop a group of men from breaking into his work truck, police said.
Knox Panter, 24, was shot about 1:15 a.m. when he went outside his relative’s home on Winburn Drive and confronted the men, according to East Point police. His death has rattled the Jefferson Park neighborhood, where residents said they have reported multiple car break-ins in recent weeks.
Panter owned a tree-trimming service and his truck was his livelihood, family friend Kelly Pridgen said. She described him as “a sweet, quiet, gentle, hard working, decent person, beloved by all who knew him.”
Pridgen is organizing a GoFundMe campaign to help his family with funeral and legal expenses.
No suspects have been identified in his death. After the shooting, the men left in a dark sedan, according to East Point police Capt. Allyn Glover.
Friday’s incident happened about a mile from another fatal shooting Nov. 26 at a Wells Fargo ATM along East Point Street. Juan Lopez was gunned down about 6:30 p.m. after depositing cash at the ATM, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Lopez was shot multiple times and several men fled the scene in a silver vehicle, Glover said at the time.
No suspects have been identified in that shooting.
East Point police are asking for anyone with information on either homicide to contact detectives at 404-761-2177.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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