GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County man has been convicted for shooting and killing his alleged attacker at a gas station last year.
The shooting unfolded on May 10, 2023, at a gas station near the 6300 block of Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross. The Gwinnett DA's Office said the shooting claimed the life of 64-year-old Benjamin Francis. Authorities took Willie Jones into custody.
During the investigation, surveillance video revealed Francis and Jones had been in an altercation with each other at the gas station before the shooting. Francis, who was armed with a box cutter, attacked Jones and knocked him from his wheelchair, according to the DA's Office.
Jones got back into his wheelchair, and several minutes later, he was provided with a gun by another man. That's when the DA's Office said the surveillance video showed Jones firing multiple shots at Francis-- killing him. When interviewed, the DA's Office said Jones claimed he shot Francis in self-defense.
However, the DA's Office said on Thursday that a jury had found Jones, 48, guilty of shooting and killing Francis "as retribution for being assaulted."
Jones was convicted on charges including felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission. He was sentenced to life in prison plus five years with the possibility of parole.
“Vigilantism is not the way to handle disputes,” Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said in a news release. “A man was killed senselessly, and his family and loved ones must cope with his loss. We grieve with them and hope that this verdict and sentencing will help alleviate their suffering.”
News happens fast. Download our 11Alive News app for all the latest breaking updates, and sign up for our Speed Feed newsletter to get a rundown of the latest headlines across north Georgia.
