Two men have been convicted in what has been a harrowing case for the DeKalb County community: the murder at a Stone Mountain gas station, with a third suspect's fate hanging in the shadow of uncertainty. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the convictions, following a jury trial that put Jeremy Collins, 29, and Joshua Ontario Simpson, 29, in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
According to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, Collins has been found guilty of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. His partner in crime, Simpson, was convicted on counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a First Offender Probationer, and also Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Their sentences were stern: life in prison plus five years for Collins, and for Simpson, 25 years, with the expectation that he serve 15 years in custody, and the balance on probation.
There's been a hitch in the proceedings, however. Collins, who was mistakenly granted bond, chose not to grace the courthouse with his presence during critical moments of his trial—the jury deliberations, verdict reading, and his sentencing. Fortunately, persistence in the face of such bold evasion paid off. On January 15, he was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit and U.S. Marshals Service in Jefferson County, Alabama, following a run-in with the law.
The murder investigation, leading back to a fateful day on July 8, 2021, unfolded with all the grimness of violence so often retold in our communities. Keng Wilson, a young man of just 20 years, was found stricken by bullets at the gas station on Rockbridge Road. Witnesses to the tragedy spoke of a shootout involving multiple assailants, while surveillance video provided a silent testament to the escalation that left Wilson dead. The fatal interaction saw Simpson confronting Wilson, with the arrival of a gold SUV marking a turning point—distracting Wilson long enough for his attackers to make their deadly moves.
While Simpson was apprehended in California and Collins now faces the consequences of his actions, the chapter is not fully closed. There is still an unidentified third suspect, as elusive as a ghost. This person was last seen in the footage wearing a white long-sleeved t-shirt with a large graphic, blue jeans, and a patterned bucket hat. The DeKalb County District Attorney's Office urges anyone with information to step forward and call their Tip Line at (404) 371-2444. These details of the pursuit come directly from their Office, which continues to navigate the aftermath of a violent day that has left indelible marks on the fabric of Stone Mountain's community.
