Life sentence for Lashon Grace convicted in DeKalb County murder of tire shop employee

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against a man accused of shooting and killing a tire shop employee who was assisting him with his car.

Jurors returned guilty verdicts Thursday against 44-year-old Lashon Grace on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in connection with the shooting death of 53-year-old Antonio Holder.

The fatal incident occurred on Feb. 27, 2021 in the parking lot of a tire shop located at the intersection Moreland Avenue and Memorial Drive. According to the investigation, Grace drove his car off of an embankment in the parking lot of the tire shop where the victim was working. Grace asked Holder and a few other employees for assistance. He became angry with Holder when a part fell off the car as they were trying to move it off of the embankment. Grace pulled out a firearm and shot Holder, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Grace and a passenger from his car walked away from the parking lot as officers from the Atlanta Police Department were pulling someone over for a tag violation nearby. Witnesses on the scene ran to alert the officers of the shooting. Officers followed the two men, observed Grace toss a gun, and took him into custody. The weapon Grace tossed matched the casings at the scene, and Grace had gunshot residue on his hands. Witness also identified him as the shooter.

Following his conviction, Grace was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 15 years to run consecutively by DeKalb Superior Court Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson.

The case, assigned to the District Attorney’s Homicide & Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Allison Layton, with assistance from Senior ADA Elizabeth Tarver, DA Investigator Shaun Hector, and Victim Advocate Desiree Livingston. Detective James Barnett of the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.