UPDATED: Georgia National Guardsman Killed At Starlight Six Drive-In
Victim Mitt-Chai Lenix, a soldier and medic in the Georgia National Guard, was on a date. Police searching for suspected gunman, Quentric S. Williams.
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DeKalb County police are on the manhunt for 32-year-old Quentric S. Williams, who is suspected in the shooting death of a man at the Starlight Six Drive-In Theatre on Moreland Avenue.
The 28-year-old vicitim, Spc. Mitt-Chai Lenix, a medic in the Georgia National Guard, is believed to have had car trouble.
Investigators think he approached the vehicle of his alleged shooter to get aid, DeKalb County Police Department spokeswoman Mekka S. Parish told East Atlanta Patch.
The May 15 shooting occurred just after midnight.
Separately, DeKalb police are investigating the death of Clinton Hightower, a pedestrian who was stuck and killed in Stone Mountain by a DeKalb County police officer on his way to aid in the search for Williams.
It's unclear why Lenix, who a friend said was on a date at the drive-in and later died of his injuries, was shot.
The Starlight, meanwhile, started a fund in Lenix's memory.
"The Starlight Drive-In Family is devastated by the senseless and terrible events that took place on the night of May 14th," the theatre said in a statement on the fund's Web page.
"A patron gunned down Mitt Lenix for merely knocking on his window to ask for a jump start. The perpetrator then fled the property. We do not accept that this is the way our neighborhood or City behaves. We do not accept that one person can hurt so many with a senseless act and we sit by and do nothing."
Parish gave the following account:
An off-duty DeKalb Police Department officer working his part-time job at the drive in, heard gunshots.
Someone flagged him down and brought him to the victim.
Williams, meanwhile, fled the scene.
Another motorist called 911 and followed Williams' vehicle until police pulled in behind at I-285 to give chase.
Williams took them on a chase out of DeKalb and into Gwinnett County where he crashed his vehicle on Lilburn Stone Mountain Road near Old Tucker Road after losing control of the vehicle.
He left the crash scene and the female passanger who rode with him.
She was detained for questioning and later released.
A spokesman for the Georgia National Guard said Lenix's death is a profound loss to the entire state Guard community of 14,000.
"We would like to to express our thoughts and prayers to his family," 1st Lt. William Carraway, said. "Right now we've lost a member of our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we will render our support to them in their time of loss."
Corey Hitchcock, who served in the Georgia National Guard with Lenix, described him as someone who always had a positive attitude and a hard worker.
"I really don't understand it," Hitchcock said, explaining he last saw Lenix two weekends ago at a "Breaking Point" show at the Georgia Renaissance Festival.
Lenix, an accomplished and award-winning martial artist, was nicknamed "Super Ninja" by his friends, Hitchcock said.
His family also has a long history in the martial arts, operating Universal Martial Arts in Stockbridge.
"He was the one man you always wanted to go out with and work with you," Hitchcock, of Boulevard Heights, said. "He always had a good attitude.
"It didn't matter how bad things were going. He always had a good attitude."
skutar
6:40 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I just want to say to the shooter, you have no idea the golden soul you have taken out of this world. You don't realize the impact you made in a negitive way for all those in the world. You could have shot yer self 1000 times over and done a better thing than killing mitt. There is a special place in hell for people like you. Its filled with tortures beyond yer imagination because you thought.......what ever it is you were or were not thinking. What is the manner in wich you were borught up in to make it ok in your consciousness to shoot a man asking you for help. May you be remembered as only what you have taken from us and what is left behind
ian
9:31 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I want to wish the shooter the worst punishment in the world for making the community lose one of its best. You do not know what you have done. I am filled with anger that words will not allow. What a horrible, senseless, depraved soul you must have. I hope the worst torture that your feeble consciousness will allow. I will be posting your picture everywhere. I only wish that you could be caught by the community that you have damaged before you were handed over to the police. What a senseless act. Mitt was asking for you to help give him a jump for his car, and you killed him. You deserve no redemption. Now, for once, I hope there is a hell..
marsha harper
12:00 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
This is soooo sad n my prayers go out to his family may god bless u all n for the shooter I hope u get the most painful awakining torture u deserve u took someone life that wasn't urs to take I hope u burn in hell for this as u will n while in hell I hope u have to face death over n over again
paul
8:12 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tragic event that unfortunately doesn't end with one death. It was reported on local news that a pedestrian was struck by an officer's pursuit vehicle while crossing a road. I believe the pedestrian did not survive that accident.
Elizabet
10:54 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
What is the world coming too . Why can't a innocent person ask for help ? What was this man doing in his car that he was soo disturbed to get his gun ? He deserves what he gets ! I hope he gets a world of hurt, as he choose to put my community thru this !!! Stupid stupid stupid man !!!!
greg harris
11:11 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The police officer that killed the pedestrian needs to charged with a crime. They cant justify a pedestrian death as "collateral damage".
darren
2:01 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Quentric S. Williams needs to be punished for that too he was the cause of a chain reaction of innocent blood shed.
greg harris
11:12 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Another ignorant black thug committing a senseless murder. No surprise there. When will it end?
Micha Torbert
12:57 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I hope the shooter will be tortured in the worst possible way. The death penalty would be to humane for him. He is a piece of crap and needs to be treated that way. I can't even think straight I am so mad and upset. What was this scum bag thinking to just roll down his window and shoot someone. I hope they catch him and he gets what he desrves.
Ashley H
1:18 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Mitt was a very nice gentleman, I worked with Mitt, he was alaways full of smiles and never let anything bother him. Mitt you will remain in our hearts and will never be forgotten RIP MITT
Anna Varela
9:09 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Readers, The suspect has been arrested. We'll post updates to this link: http://patch.com/A-ttLF
Jenna
11:30 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Q. Mr. Hightower was struck and killed near the Stone Mountain area by a DeKalb police officer who was on his way to aid in the chase and search for Williams. Since you could argue that that would not have happened if the Lenix shooting had not taken place, can Williams be charged with that death, too?
A. Georgia does have a statute for felony murder to cover deaths that occur during the commission of a felony. The district attorney will make the decision as to whether the statute applies in this incident.
I say the District Attorney should charge him with this too, along with the weapon possession by a convicted drug offender. Get out the book and throw it at him!! So he may never walk upon the free streets again!