MOTHER AND SON GUILTY IN 2006 CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBERY AND MURDER—SON GETS LIFE PLUS 25

The owners of the Shell service station at 3195 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway were allowing defendant Regina Roberts to live in a shed on their property—rent free. Her son, 26-year-old David Leeks, was a customer. Just before 11:00 p.m. on December 19, 2006, Leeks entered the store with his mother and shot clerk Zerit Haileslasie three times—once in the head, twice in the leg—killing him. Surveillance cameras recorded the murder and Leeks and his mother taking the money from the cash register.

Forty-seven-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. She then testified against her son at his jury trial last week. On Friday, July 20th, Leeks was found guilty of one count each of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced by Superior Court Senior Judge L. A. McConnell to life in prison plus 25-years. Regina Roberts was given a 20-year sentence after her guilty plea.

Haileslasie—known by the nickname “Simon” in the neighborhood—was working on a laptop computer inside the glass enclosure of the store when Leeks walked up to him and shot him. The 39-year-old Haileslasie had moved to Atlanta from Toronto, Canada to help run the family business. He was saving money to become the next in the family of Ethiopian entrepreneurs to open a store.

This case was prepared and prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Fani Willis, Lawanda Hodges and Shireen Hormozdi. The case was investigated by Atlanta Police Department Officer C. W. Coleman and Fulton County DA Investigator Stephen Barresi. DA Victim-Witness Advocate Natalie Head provided assistance to the family of the victim.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us