JURY CONVICTS WOULD-BE ROBBER OF MURDER

Victim Fired Defensive Shot, Wounding Attacker Before Dying

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by jury trial of 30-year old Jerrick Atkinson. Atkinson was convicted Friday afternoon of Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon for the shooting death of 37-year old Wayne Edwards in College Park.

Edwards was gunned down on December 13, 2008 in the parking lot of the El Rancheros Restaurant on Old National Highway. The investigation revealed that as Edwards was exiting his car outside the restaurant, Defendant Atkinson approached the victim with a gun in an attempt to rob him. The victim in turn pulled his own weapon to defend himself. Defendant Atkinson fired seven shots at the victim, fatally wounding him after striking the man in the head, neck and chest. Before dying, the victim was able to fire one shot at the defendant striking him in the stomach. He was found wounded next to the victim’s body when authorities arrived on scene.

Jerrick Atkinson was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus thirty years consecutively by presiding Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Linda Dunikoski prosecuted the case with assistance from ADA Jimmy Kim and DA Investigator Michael Green. Detective A. Redding with the College Park Police Department led the initial investigation.

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