Thursday, October 12, 2023

State v. Christopher Sellers

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against an Atlanta man accused of shooting another man inside a hotel. 

Jurors returned guilty verdicts Wednesday against Christopher Sellers, 45, on charges of Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony stemming from an incident on April 2, 2019. 

According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a call about a person shot at a hotel on Glenfair Road in unincorporated Decatur.  They found the victim, Thedarious Mitchell, 24, lying in the hallway with a gunshot wound.  Paramedics transported Mitchell to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries.

Mitchell’s girlfriend told police she and Mitchell were in their hotel room when there was a knock on the door.  When Mitchell opened the door, two men immediately began fighting with him.  One of the men pistol-whipped Mitchell.  Mitchell tried to run away and one of the men shot him in the back. 

Mitchell’s girlfriend told police she knew the shooter as “Baldhead” or “Chris.”  Investigators later identified the man as Defendant Sellers.  Mitchell’s girlfriend told them she had previously worked for Defendant Sellers.

Law enforcement arrested Defendant Sellers in Nevada and while in custody there, he bragged to a cell mate that he had shot Mitchell. 

DeKalb County Judge Brian K. Ross, who presided over the trial, sentenced Defendant Sellers to life without parole plus 15 years. 

The case, assigned to the Homicide and Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jill Hartsfield with assistance from ADA Emily Donkervoet, DA Investigator James Delk, Victim Advocate Jozlyn Varnedoe and Victim Advocate Christy Palmer.  DeKalb County Police Department Detective W.J. Muller led the initial investigation.