A man was arrested Sunday in connection with the shooting death of his 77-year-old grandfather in Lithonia, according to police.

Jamal Nicholl, 34, was taken into custody at the scene and faces a charge of murder in the death of Pierce Crafton, authorities said.

Around 6 p.m., Lithonia officers got 911 calls about a person shot in the 7000 block of Dean Court between Covington Highway and Turner Hill Road. When they arrived, they found Crafton already dead, police said.

“The motive behind this tragic incident remains unknown at this time,” police spokesperson Sgt. Jedidia Hazlewood said in a statement. “The Lithonia Police Department expresses its deepest condolences to the victim’s family. This is a truly heartbreaking event, and our thoughts are with the affected loved ones during this difficult time.”

Investigators are still gathering information and remain “dedicated to conducting a thorough investigation,” Hazlewood said.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

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Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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