Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney

Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit

Sherry Boston, District Attorney

GUNMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DEADLY CRIME SPREE

September 18, 2018

Shooter ID’d At Hospital after Gun Battle with
Surviving Victim

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by guilty plea in connection with a violent crime spree involving four victims, including one fatality.  During a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, 26-year-old Santavious Jerome Hurley entered a guilty plea to charges of Murder, Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony, and weapons offenses in advance of a scheduled trial next week.

The charges against Hurley stem from a series of incidents beginning on the night of April 11, 2017. According to the investigation, Defendant Hurley approached two men waiting for an Uber outside of a gas station in the 2500 block of Gresham Road shortly before10:30 p.m. The Defendant held the men at gunpoint and demanded the victims take off their pants and give up their property, including their wallets and several electronics. He fired multiple shots at the men before escaping in a stolen SUV. It was recovered a short distance later with the victims’ belongings and a handgun inside. The victims were not injured.

Approximately two hours later, Defendant Hurley shot and killed 39-year-old Joseph Brown outside of a Flat Shoals Road motel in Decatur following an argument. Witnesses reported seeing the Defendant waving a gun and making threats before firing several shots at the victim, striking him in the chest and fatally wounding him.

The following day, Defendant Hurley, armed with two guns, approached a group of people gathered outside of a home in the 900 block of Bouldercrest Drive and told them to “give it up!” A fight then ensued between Hurley and a fourth victim, Will Harris. During the fight, Defendant Hurley shot the victim, who grabbed one of the guns the Defendant was carrying and returned fire, striking and wounding him. Hurley escaped in a getaway car driven by Co-Defendant Roshun Allen.

Victim Harris was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital to be treated for his injuries. While there, he spotted Defendant Hurley, who was also in the emergency room, seeking treatment for injuries sustained during his gunfight with the victim.

Following his guilty plea, Defendant Hurley was sentenced to life in prison by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson. A bench warrant has been issued for Co-Defendant Roshun Allen.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief ADA Buffy Thomas with assistance from DA Investigator Chris Weismen. Detectives J. Kearney and D.R. Ward of the DeKalb Police Department, and Detective T. Epps, of the Atlanta Police Department, led the initial investigations.