DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Friends and family are remembering a man who was killed at a gas station in DeKalb County earlier this week during a shooting that had nothing to do with him.
They brought with them signs demanding that the violence in metro Atlanta stop as they mourn the loss of 28-year-old John Battle.
“My shouldn’t have died coming to the store to get an energy drink. Violence has to stop,” Battle’s mother said during the vigil.
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Channel 2′s Michele Newell was among the dozens of people crying out for justice.
“We want peace. We want peace in our streets,” his mother said. “We don’t get nothing but death, killing and mayhem in our community, and I’m fed up.”
They all came to the same place where Battle lost his life Thursday night.
Battle was caught in the crossfire of a shootout at a gas station on Covington Highway. His girlfriend and their 16-month-old daughter, both of whom survived, were in the car.
“He had a year left of college. He was going to be a lawyer,” his mother said.
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Battle’s baby girl is now forced to grow up without her father. She was surrounded by loved ones as they demanded justice and more security at the gas station.
Teadra Jones with 10,000 Fearless Security and Patrol says her organization makes it a point to patrol neighborhoods.
“We will be patrolling the store. We talked to the owner, and we will make sure that we have this locked down,” Jones said. “Our elderly should be able to walk the streets without being in fear. Our mothers should not be burying their sons. This has to stop.”
While they are still working out an exact schedule, Jones told Newell that they will be out as much as possible.
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The family has set up a Gofundme page to benefit Battle’s daughter. Click here to donate.
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