On Friday morning, a car will arrive at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport carrying a man's body.
Workers will load it on a plane bound for Thailand, a shipment for a grieving mother 9,000 miles away from Atlanta. As sad as it is, it will be a blessing, because, just as the mother of a murdered son grieves, she longs to pay respects to his remains, to have them home.
Somphot "Joey" Aromsuk's mother is getting the chance thanks to residents of the new DeKalb County city of Tucker, who raised money for the flight. They also got Delta Airlines to cut the rate in half to transport the body of the beloved 33-year-old restaurant owner, who was killed in a robbery attempt allegedly involving one of his waitresses. Many of the benefactors are strangers or only knew the man in passing by visits to Mai Thai on Hugh Howell Road.
Mayor Frank Auman is proud of the "completely organic, heartfelt undertaking."
"It was originated and organized by people in our community who wanted a way to share the grief of this family, and to show our true colors as a community," he said Thursday.
Detectives charged Jarvis Stanford, 23, and Imani Burns, 20, with murder and armed robbery. Stanford was identified as the shooter, Burns the getaway driver, according to DeKalb police.
"This is the Tucker way," Szubski said.
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