On the evening of March 3, 2022, a simple trip to a gas station in Lithonia, Georgia, turned into a devastating tragedy for 28-year-old John Battle. He was a father who had stopped to buy juice while with his girlfriend and their 1-year-old daughter. As they were leaving the Shell gas station on Covington Highway, a dispute between two groups erupted into gunfire. Battle, an innocent bystander, was struck by the gunfire as he was driving away from the scene. After being shot, his vehicle crashed into a wooded area nearby. His girlfriend and daughter, who were in the car with him, were not seriously injured.
The aftermath of the shooting sent ripples of grief through the community, with family and friends remembering John Battle as a kind, generous, and hardworking man dedicated to his family. A vigil was held at the gas station where he lost his life, with attendees pleading for an end to the violence that claimed the life of a beloved father and son.
The investigation into the shooting led to the swift arrest of a 14-year-old suspect the day after the incident. This teenager, who was also injured during the shootout, was charged with felony murder and armed robbery. A second suspect, 22-year-old Ace Chrishon Benton, was arrested a little over two weeks later and faced charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. Authorities reported that Benton confessed to his involvement in the incident and that the weapon he allegedly used was recovered. More than a year after the tragic event, in October 2023, it was reported that the DeKalb County District Attorney's office was negotiating plea deals with the two individuals accused of Battle's murder.
