Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment following their convictions for the murder of a man at a gas station in Decatur in 2023. On April 23, 2025, a jury found Quavion Hale, aged 20, and Stantavis Reese, aged 18, guilty of Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony related to the killing of Akhir Muhammad on January 10, 2023.
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams presided over the trial and handed down the sentences. Hale received Life Without the Possibility of Parole plus an additional 25 years. Reese was sentenced to Life With the Possibility of Parole plus an additional 25 years.
The investigation revealed that officers from the DeKalb County Police Department responded around 6 p.m. to reports of a shooting at a gas station on Snapfinger Woods Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered Muhammad had been shot multiple times in the back and was declared dead at the scene.
It was determined that Muhammad and a friend had stopped at the gas station together. As they entered the store, they passed by Hale and Reese. Moments after exiting, both defendants drew firearms on Muhammad demanding his legally carried gun.
Before Muhammad could respond, Hale and Reese shot him in the back before fleeing on foot. Reese returned briefly to retrieve Muhammad's gun and Hale's backpack.
Surveillance footage captured both defendants arriving at the scene; Hale was seen entering and leaving with his backpack while Reese appeared inside minutes before the incident occurred.
Further investigation linked Hale through social media posts where he wore similar attire as seen in surveillance footage during the murder.
Hale was arrested on March 28, 2023; Reese followed suit on December 8 without any resistance from either party involved when taken into custody.
The case fell under jurisdictional oversight by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jasmine Atakora alongside assistance provided by Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Peterson; Investigator Tia Johnson also played roles alongside Victim Advocate Christy Palmer supporting prosecution efforts throughout proceedings led initially by Detective Knight representing DeKalb County Police Department Homicide & Gangs Unit's investigative team handling this matter thoroughly until resolution reached ultimately within courtroom settings adjudicated accordingly based upon facts presented therein duly considered altogether beforehand making decisions rendered thereof respectively concluded thereafter satisfactorily achieved outcomes desired effectively achieved objectives sought conclusively finalized successfully executed comprehensively fulfilled obligations met entirely fully realized expectations attained wholly accomplished goals set forth deliberately intentionally planned systematically 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