JUSTICE SERVED FOR HIJACKER TURNED MURDERER

State vs. Tyshawn Roscoe

Atlanta- 30-year old Tyshawn Roscoe will spend the rest of his life behind bars for two violent crimes that left one man dead and another emotionally scarred. A Fulton County Jury convicted Roscoe late Thursday of Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Hijacking a Motor Vehicle, Obstruction and weapons charges for the 2006 murder of 37-year old John Douglas and assault on another man.

Douglas was found shot to death outside of an East Point apartment on Drexel Lane October 5, 2006. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and then seeing a Dodge Ram Truck with a “drive out” tag speed away from the scene of the crime. Douglas was shot four times (three times in the back) in what investigators believe was an attempted armed robbery. He was arrested a few days later in the same area following an anonymous tip to police. Roscoe tried to run from authorities as they approached, dropping a .38 caliber revolver as he ran. Crime tests later matched bullets taken from the victim’s body to that weapon.

The murder weapon was also linked to the highjacking of a car salesman five days prior to the killing. In that incident, Roscoe visited BNS Auto Sales in Fulton County and asked to test drive a Dodge Ram Truck (the same one spotted leaving the scene of the murder).

After driving a short distance from the car dealership, the defendant pulled a gun on the salesman, ordered him to get out of the vehicle and then drove away.

Following the jury’s guilty verdict, Roscoe was sentenced to life plus and additional 25-years in prison by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter.

The case was prosecuted by Senior District Attorney Pete Johnson with assistance from ADA Jameekia Davis and Senior DA Investigator Steve Barresi. Captain R. Popham of the East Point Police Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov