In the dim afternoon light of Valentine's Day in Atlanta, Georgia, a fatal encounter unfolded, leaving one man dead and another facing a murder charge. On February 14, 2026, 37-year-old Monterio Spurling was shot and killed inside a closed dental office on Martin Luther King Drive SW. The man accused of the crime, 73-year-old David Mays, a retired dentist who owned the property, told police he was alerted to a break-in by his Ring security camera.
According to warrants, Mays drove to his
former office after receiving the security alert. Upon arrival, he found the front door lock damaged. Inside the dimly lit building, Mays told investigators he saw a person approaching him and, fearing for his safety, fired his 9mm Sig Sauer pistol multiple times. After the individual was on the ground, Mays claimed he recognized him as someone who had allegedly broken into the building before. Ring camera footage captured Mays entering the building, followed by the sound of several gunshots.
An investigation revealed that Spurling was unarmed and made no aggressive movements toward Mays. In his statement to the police, Mays acknowledged these facts. He also admitted to not calling 911 until after he had shot Spurling. Following the incident, David Mays was arrested and charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He is being held in the Fulton County jail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 10.
