DeKalb Mother To Serve Life After Fatally Shooting Roommate's Boyfriend

STONE-MOUNTAIN, GA — A mother was sentenced to life in prison after shooting and killing a man who was visiting her roommate, according to a news release.

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced March 18 that Christie Montgomery, 35, of Stone Mountain was found guilty. She was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Justice Jackson, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

The fatal incident occurred on May 17, 2018 at an apartment complex on Wood Bend Drive in Stone Mountain where Montgomery lived with her young child and a roommate, according to the news release.

The male victim occasionally stayed with the roommate, who rented a room from Montgomery. According to the investigators, Montgomery returned to her apartment around 4:00 a.m. with a group of acquaintances and her child. When she arrived, she accused her roommate, the victim and a mutual friend who was also in the apartment of stealing her marijuana, and ordered them to leave.

After exiting the apartment, the roommate realized she had lost her cell phone so the group returned to search for the phone, which upset Montgomery, police said. She retrieved her gun, walked outside, and shot the roommate’s friend Jackson once in the chest.

He fell to the ground, pulled out his gun and shot back, but didn’t hit anyone, police said. The roommate and friend attempted to find a neighbor to call 911. The acquaintances who came to the apartment with Montgomery left. Montgomery returned to her apartment and locked the door. Jackson was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries, police said.

When police arrived, they said Montgomery refused to answer the door. A few hours later, they forced entry into the apartment and found her with her child. Police said she claimed that she kicked the roommate, victim and friend out after they stole money from her, and that she heard several shots when she closed the door.

Following her conviction, Montgomery was sentenced to life in prison plus five years by DeKalb Superior Court Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson.