DEKALB COUNTY, Ga.,None — At his first court appearance on Friday evening, 31-year-old Ahmad Gill said that he is wrongly accused.
"I'm an innocent man, and I will have my day in trial to prove my innocence," Gill said.
He is charged with murder and aggravated assault. Police said he shot and killed Chris Long, a professional wrestler and part-time security guard, while he worked at Shooter Alley in Doraville on Nov. 21.
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Detectives said Long asked Gill to leave the strip club. They said he later returned with a gun, killing Long and injuring another man. Gill's driver, Jason Stevens, was also in court for allegedly making false statements and being party to a crime.
In court, Gill asked for bond at a later date, but he was denied. The judge also reset his preliminary hearing for December.
WSB-TV chris long IM wrestler Chris Long Chris Long Gill covered his face with a t-shirt in court and as he left the building, but he said he wasn't hiding in shame.
"I'm hiding my face because I'm being exploited enough for something I didn't do," Gill told Channel 2's George Howell.
He told Howell to tell Long's family that he isn't responsible for Long's death, but at least one family member isn't buying it.
"I couldn't believe his arrogance. And he was just sitting there with his head covered," Long's sister, LoriAnn Hollingsworth, said. "Chris is about to be covered forever and he had the arrogance to sit there and try to be in charge and say I will get bond. He never deserves to be free again."
Long's funeral was held at noon on Saturday. It was held at the Carmichael Funeral home in Smyrna.