Man in wheelchair kills man accused of attacking him, GA cops say. He’s prison-bound
A man who was reportedly knocked from his wheelchair during a fight and later killed his alleged attacker in an act of “vigilantism” will spend the rest of his life in prison, Georgia prosecutors said.
Willie Lee Jones, 48, was convicted Thursday, Nov. 7, on charges stemming from the May 2023 shooting inside a gas station in Norcross, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Prosecutors said Jones, who uses a wheelchair, got into an argument with Benjamin Alonzo Francis, 64, when their dispute turned physical, then escalated to gunfire.
He was found guilty on two counts of felony murder, as well as aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of firearm by a felon, according to prosecutors.
“Vigilantism is not the way to handle disputes,” Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said in the release.
“A man was killed senselessly, and his family and loved ones must cope with his loss,” Austin-Gatson said. “We grieve with them and hope that this verdict and sentencing will help alleviate their suffering.”
Prosecutors said Jones and Francis didn’t know each other before the May 10, 2023, attack.
Security footage from that day showed the men exchange words before Francis, who authorities said was armed with a box cutter, assaulted Jones, knocking him out his wheelchair, according to the release.
Prosecutors didn’t say what sparked the dispute.
Jones got back into his chair and called someone, who arrived several minutes later with a handgun he gave to Jones, prosecutors said.
“Jones then wheeled his way toward where Francis was and fired multiple shots at Francis, killing him,” according to the release. “Francis fell, knocking Jones from the wheelchair and landing on him.”
Jones lifted Francis off of him, got back in his wheelchair and left the gas station before authorities arrived, prosecutors said.
A loved one remembered Francis as someone with “a big heart” who “would make you laugh even harder,” according to an online obituary.
At trial, Jones argued the shooting was in self-defense, but a jury convicted him.
Jones was given a life sentence plus five years with the possibility of parole, the district attorney’s office said.
Norcross is about a 20-mile drive northeast from downtown Atlanta.