ATLANTA — Kroger has announced a $25,000 reward in the shooting death of a man outside the grocery located on Ponce de Leon Avenue on March 10.
Josh Richey, 38, from Hayden, Ala. was shot and killed outside the store around 2 p.m. Atlanta police say the father of four was shot in the chest.
A friend told Channel 2's Carl Willis Richey was a construction worker who was trying to secure his property when he was shot.
Jason Shelton says he was working construction out behind the Kroger when he and Richey noticed that someone had broken into their work truck.
"The individual was already in the truck and Josh just slapped the window with his hand just to get his attention," Shelton said.
That's when Shelton says the suspect raised a gun and fired through the driver's side window, hitting Richey.
Shelton says all he could do was duck to avoid becoming a victim himself.
"I rolled over and was praying to God I didn't get shot. I saw the BMW come by. He slowed down when he got beside me and then he accelerated. I jumped up and ran around the building to get a tag number he was already out of sight," Shelton said.
Richey was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several witnesses said they saw the black BMW with tinted windows speed off.
So far, no arrests have been made in the case. Kroger says it is continuing to cooperate with the Atlanta Police Department in its investigation.
Anyone with any information about the case should call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
Kroger says the reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Richey.
Mr. Richey's employer, RGWilliams Construction based in Homer, Ga., has also set up a fund to help the Richey family.
Donations to the Josh Richey Memorial Fund can be made at any SunTrust Bank. The account number is 1000177716346.
WSBTV
