DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction of a Gwinnett County man for a fatal shooting outside a Lithonia bar. Henry Maurice Anderson, 39, was found guilty by a jury on charges including Malice Murder and two counts of Felony Murder related to the death of Ceazar Abernathy, 34.
The incident occurred in the early hours of April 6, 2024. DeKalb County Police responded to reports of a shooting at a bar and grill located on Evans Mill Road. Officers discovered Abernathy with multiple gunshot wounds near the parking lot; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Five bullet casings were recovered nearby.
Surveillance footage showed Abernathy exiting his vehicle and approaching an area between the restaurant and an adjacent gas station before being confronted by Anderson, who was wearing a backpack and hoodie. The video depicted Abernathy running away from Anderson before collapsing as Anderson walked away.
While officers were still present at the crime scene, they received another call about a suspicious person matching Anderson's description at a nearby personal care home. Upon arrival, police arrested Anderson, finding him in possession of both a firearm and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Anderson claimed he was under the influence of mushrooms during police questioning and denied being present at the restaurant when the shooting took place. However, shell casings from the crime scene matched his firearm.
Judge Courtney L. Johnson sentenced Anderson to life without parole plus an additional 15 years after presiding over his trial.
The case was managed by Senior Assistant District Attorney Helen Pott with support from Senior Assistant District Attorney Parker Aziz and other team members including Investigator Curtis Averhart and Victim Advocate Kaysha Albritton. Detective A. Campbell led the initial investigation for DeKalb County Police Department.