'Murder Kroger' Murder Suspects Indicted

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A Fulton County grand jury has indicted two men accused of killing an Alabama man outside a Midtown Kroger in March of this year, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Damarius Thompson and Shontavious Chestnut were indicted on 14 counts in relation to the murder of Joshua Richey, who was shot and killed while defending his truck from thieves. Richey had been working on the exterior of the so-called “Murder Kroger” and was returning to his truck at the end of the day when he noticed men breaking into the truck from the passenger side, the DA’s Office said.

Richey allegedly confronted the thieves through the driver side window, at which point Thompson allegedly shot Richey in the chest and fled in a car being driven by Chestnut, prosecutors said.

Surveillance camera footage of the parking lot captured a black BMW with tinted windows which was described by witnesses as the getaway vehicle. A tip from Crime Stoppers led police to the BMW, which led them to Thompson.

Thompson has been indicted on charges of murder, four counts of felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal attempt to commit entering automobile, tampering with evidence, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Chestnut has been indicted on charges of felony murder, entering automobile, criminal attempt to commit entering automobile, and hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

Thompson was arrested on March 26, while Chestnut was found in Florida on April 9.

Fulton County jail records show Thompson as a frequent guest inside the jail; his arrest record spans from 2008 to 2014 and includes charges such as obstruction, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, battery, and burglary.

DeKalb County jail records show arrests for Thompson between 2007 and 2012 for reckless driving, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, theft by receiving stolen property, and several failure to appear arrests.

Georgia Department of Corrections records show that Thompson has done two stints in state prison for aggravated stalking, terroristic threats and actions, and theft by receiving stolen property. He had been released from prison just three days before allegedly killing Richey, police said at the time of his arrest.