The quiet hum of a College Park gas station turned deadly one night in February 2023, and now a Fulton County jury is being shown exactly how it unfolded.
Prosecutors say 23-year-old Jaden George was shot and killed outside the Shell station at Old National Highway and Godby Road, and that the man accused of pulling the trigger was riding in the same car. The defendant, 23-year-old College Park resident Zabrian Minter, has pleaded not guilty and is on trial facing a possible life sentence without parole if convicted, according to WSB-TV.
Prosecutors told jurors that Minter and George drove to the gas station together the night of the shooting, and surveillance video played in court shows what happened next. George is seen getting out of the car, walking into the convenience store, and then returning to the vehicle. Moments later, someone inside the car opens fire, leaving George on the pavement as the car speeds away, according to 95.5 WSB.
Investigators later found the vehicle at a nearby hotel, and the case took several months to result in an arrest. Minter was ultimately taken into custody on May 13, 2023, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Family reaction
George’s family sat through the testimony, reliving the worst night of their lives from a courtroom bench. His father told reporters that watching the man accused of killing his son sit emotionless in court was especially painful, noting that Minter was supposed to be his friend. The family also used the moment to plead with the community to “put down the gun,” according to WSB-TV.
Why it matters
The case has struck a nerve in College Park, where a simple gas stop turning into a fatal shooting feels far too close to home. Neighbors say they are following the trial closely as prosecutors continue calling witnesses and the defense prepares its case, all while the community wrestles with the lingering trauma and ongoing toll of gun violence.
