Young father killed while helping friends change a tire

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A 6-year-old girl is without her father after police say someone shot and killed a 26-year-old man who had stopped at a gas station to help friends change a tire.

It happened behind the Valero gas station on Fulton Industrial Boulevard near I-20 early Tuesday morning.

Now, Fulton County police are reviewing surveillance video from the gas station, but they’ve still haven't made any arrests.

Customers at the gas station said they weren’t surprised to see pieces of crime scene tape in the parking lot.

TRENDING STORIES:

“It’s just a high crime rate here, prostitution, drug dealers in this area. It’s not good for young adults, for anyone to be in this area,” said one customer.

The victim’s family sent us photos of Elliott Jacobi Johnson. Police say Johnson stopped at the Valero to assist friends who needed help changing a tire. A spokesperson for the Police Department said that’s when a group of regulars that hang out in the area approached Johnson. They started arguing for reasons that are unclear and someone pulled out a gun, killing the young father.

“At night it’s the wrong place. At nighttime anybody can catch a bullet. Bullets don’t have no name. You’ve got to be careful,” said the customer, who didn’t wish to tell us his name.

Workers at the gas station are now left feeling uneasy, too.

Police say it’s still early in the investigation. They’re working to talk to witnesses and carefully review that surveillance video.

The family says Johnson died doing something he loved doing, helping others.

Cox Media Group