LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A Lawrenceville man will spend years behind bars for killing an acquaintance who refused to sell him a gun illegally, more than three years after the deadly confrontation at a Gwinnett County motel.
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Jay Dante Crump, 24, was found guilty of malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the September 2023 shooting death of 28-year-old Dareese Amir Ellis.
Crump was sentenced to life in prison plus five years.
The case began on Sept. 5, 2023, when police responded to the HomeTowne Studios on Jimmy Carter Boulevard after reports of a shooting.
Ellis, of Peachtree Corners, was found dead in the motel parking lot around 5:45 p.m.
At the time, police said Crump and Ellis were both staying at the extended-stay motel. Police said the two men had gotten into an argument that turned violent, and Ellis was shot.
The following day, police identified Crump as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest. Crump initially went on the run before turning himself in at the Gwinnett County Jail on Sept. 10, 2023.
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He was initially charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Prosecutors later presented evidence showing the confrontation stemmed from an argument over a gun.
According to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, Crump had previously purchased marijuana from Ellis. Crump asked Ellis to sell him a gun, then report it stolen so the transaction would not be documented.
Ellis refused and told Crump he preferred to sell the gun through a pawn shop because it was a more legitimate method, prosecutors said.
The disagreement escalated through text messages and phone calls before the two men met in the motel parking lot.
Prosecutors said the men spoke briefly before Crump pulled out a gun and fired twice at Ellis.
Ellis was killed at the scene.
During the trial, jurors heard testimony that Ellis was unarmed and unagitated before meeting Crump face-to-face. They also saw cellphone video of the encounter that prosecutors said showed Crump pointing a gun at Ellis.
“It is unfortunate that a life was taken,” Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “And now, the sentence is a stark reminder that there are severe consequences for such acts.”
Crump was convicted of malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and sentenced to life in prison plus five years.
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