DISPUTE OVER MISSING AUTO RIMS LEADS TO MURDER

Augustus Ellison Pleads Guilty to Murder; Sentenced to Life Plus 5

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by guilty plea today of Augustus Ellison of Atlanta in the October 18, 2005 shotgun slaying of 51-year-old Roy Fallen. The case was called for trial this morning when the defendant's lawyer announced he would plead guilty to malice murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson sentenced the defendant to a term of life plus five years.

The 51-year-old Fallen, a "shade tree" mechanic, was the uncle of the man who claimed his Chevy Camaro rims had been stolen while the car sat in his uncle's yard. The defendant is an acquaintance of the victim's family whose name was tossed about as someone who might have taken the rims.

On the night of the murder, the defendant went to the victim's home in the 24-hundred block of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway looking for the nephew-the owner of the car-to disavow knowledge of the missing rims. He wasn't there, but his uncle and the defendant got into an argument. The defendant shot the victim in the thigh with his (Fallen's) own .12-gauge, pump shotgun. The blast shattered his femur and severed a major artery. Fallen was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital a short time later.

Senior Assistant District Attorneys Shepard Orlow and Phyllis Clerk prepared the case for trial. The case was investigated by APD Detective D. W. Coleman and Fulton County DA Investigator Nathaniel Clark. Natalie Head of the DA's Office assisted the victim's family members and the witnesses.

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