Stone Mountain man, Drew Brooks, sentenced to 25 years in murder of landlord

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Drew Brooks, 40, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Tuesday, May 7,  for the May 25, 2022 shooting death of his landlord, Ashley Wakins, 33. 

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that jurors found Brooks guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter, Felony Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault, and two counts of Possession of a Firearm in connection with Watkins death.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Tangela M. Barrie, who presided over the trial, handed down the 25-year sentence to Brooks plus 10 years of probation.

According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a call about a person shot in the 4000 block of Autumn Circle in Stone Mountain.  When they arrived, they found Watkins lying in the street suffering from a gunshot wound to her abdomen.  Paramedics transported Watkins to Atlanta Medical Center where she died of her injuries.

Investigators learned that Watkins was Brooks’ landlord and they both lived at the home.  In the months leading up to the shooting, the relationship between Watkins and Brooks became strained and Watkins tried to evict Brooks from the house.  She also made multiple unsuccessful requests for a Temporary Protective Order against Defendant Brooks.

According to witnesses at the scene, Watkins and Brooks were involved in an argument that escalated to violence.  Brooks shot Watkins and also pointed a gun at a second woman who lived in the home with Watkins, threatening to kill her.

The case, assigned to the Homicide and Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Tauri Thomas with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Costello, District Attorney Investigator Christopher Hollowood, District Attorney Supervising Investigator Jacques Spencer and Supervising Victim Advocate Ikwo Nyong.  DeKalb County Police Department Detective Crowe led the initial investigation.