In a tragic turn of events on the night of April 4, 2024, Nicolas Grierson, a 27-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot in Stonecrest, Georgia. The incident unfolded at a gas station located at 3316 Snapfinger Road, where Grierson was inside his vehicle. It is believed that he was involved in a drug-related transaction that escalated into a violent confrontation.
During the exchange, as Grierson attempted to drive away, an individual outside the car discharged a firearm, striking him in the neck. With his foot still on the accelerator, the vehicle tragically rolled across the street, colliding with several objects before coming to a stop. Law enforcement who arrived at the scene discovered Grierson deceased inside his car.
The investigation into the death of Nicolas Grierson quickly expanded, leading to a significant breakthrough. A collaborative effort between the DeKalb County Police Department's Gang Unit, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Cedar Park Police Department in Texas uncovered a connection to a larger criminal enterprise. The inquiry was initially spurred by information from Texas law enforcement regarding four armed robbery suspects believed to be in DeKalb County. This tip led investigators to a residence at 3111 Cleethropes Drive in Lithonia, Georgia.
On April 5, 2024, just a day after Grierson's death, law enforcement executed a search and arrest warrant at the Lithonia address. The operation resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals without incident. The search of the premises yielded a substantial amount of incriminating evidence, including 20 firearms, some of which were classified as machine guns, along with illegal mechanical switches. Authorities also discovered a significant quantity of illegal narcotics, including mushrooms, marijuana, and various pills. Among the twenty people arrested, four were directly implicated in the death of Nicolas Grierson.
Fratavic Goodwin, 20, Amarion Pitts, 20, Joshua Thomas, 18, and Jerry Johnson, 25, were subsequently charged with armed robbery and felony murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Nicolas Grierson. The other individuals taken into custody faced charges related to violations of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, firearms offenses, and violations of the Gang Act. In January 2025, a DeKalb County grand jury formally indicted Goodwin, Johnson, and Thomas on multiple counts, including malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, ensuring that the individuals allegedly responsible for the death of Nicolas Grierson would face the full measure of the justice system.
