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DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A Lithonia man will spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering a man at a gas station after heated argument, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced today, Aug. 19.
William Cooper, 21, was found guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the death of Delantay Johnson, 28, on March 6, 2025.
According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded at around 10:20 a.m. to a report of a person shot at a gas station in the 7000 block of Covington Highway in Lithonia. When officers arrived, they found Johnson lying face down in the middle of the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the back.
As officers tried to help Johnson, Cooper approached them and said that he was the shooter. He said that he had shot Johnson in self-defense. Cooper told police that he and Johnson had argued earlier in the day and that Johnson had threatened him. Cooper said that Johnson left the gas station, returned with a gun and confronted him.
Detectives pulled surveillance video from the gas station that showed Cooper circling the gas pumps in a white Volvo. Johnson could be seen walking across the parking lot. When he reached the gas pumps, Cooper pulled up to Johnson and said something before firing shots out of his car window.
Johnson tried to crawl towards the gas station’s convenience store for help, but Cooper stopped his car, got out and shot Johnson several more times while he lay on the pavement.
First responders transported Johnson to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries. While Johnson had a gun in his waistband at the time he was shot, surveillance video confirmed that he never drew his weapon.
As officers tried to help Johnson, Cooper approached them and said that he was the shooter. He said that he had shot Johnson in self-defense. Cooper told police that he and Johnson had argued earlier in the day and that Johnson had threatened him. Cooper said that Johnson left the gas station, returned with a gun and confronted him.
Detectives pulled surveillance video from the gas station that showed Cooper circling the gas pumps in a white Volvo. Johnson could be seen walking across the parking lot. When he reached the gas pumps, Cooper pulled up to Johnson and said something before firing shots out of his car window.
Johnson tried to crawl towards the gas station’s convenience store for help, but Cooper stopped his car, got out and shot Johnson several more times while he lay on the pavement.
First responders transported Johnson to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries. While Johnson had a gun in his waistband at the time he was shot, surveillance video confirmed that he never drew his weapon.