In the spring of 2022, a promising life was tragically cut short in Smyrna, Georgia. Michael Ezzard Jr., a 22-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on the evening of May 16th outside the Five Points Shopping Center on Roswell Street. The aspiring entrepreneur was remembered by his family as a beloved only child who was well-loved in his community. His death, captured on surveillance video, sent ripples of grief and shock through the area.
The events of that night unfolded in a matter of moments. Ezzard was seen on video holding a door open for two women and chatting with them on the sidewalk. Suddenly, a man in a black hoodie approached from behind, brandished a handgun, and after a brief struggle, shot Ezzard. The assailant then fled the scene in a gray four-door Honda driven by a woman, last seen heading westbound on Hawthorne Avenue. The brazen nature of the attack, which police did not believe was a robbery, was described as calculated and callous.
Smyrna police quickly launched an investigation, appealing to the public for help in identifying the individuals involved. By the end of June, they had identified their primary suspect as Terrill Anton Jones. Warrants were issued for his arrest on multiple charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Jones, who had a criminal record and was considered armed and dangerous, was believed to be hiding in the East Atlanta or DeKalb County area.
The search for Jones came to a dramatic end in July in South Tucson, Arizona. Local law enforcement there attempted to take him into custody. During the encounter, Jones reportedly behaved erratically, running into traffic before being tased by officers. After being handcuffed, he became unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to revive him. Following Jones's death, the Smyrna Police Department considered the homicide case of Michael Ezzard Jr. to be closed.
