Atlanta homicide detectives seek public tips to identify suspect in fatal Southwest Atlanta shooting case

What investigators say happened

Atlanta homicide detectives are asking for public help to identify and locate a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred in Southwest Atlanta earlier this year. Police responded to reports of a person shot at about 2:48 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2025, at 395 Holderness St. SW, in the city’s West End area. Officers found a 19-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was later identified as Ashton Jackson, 19. The case remains under investigation, and detectives have continued seeking information that could clarify the sequence of events and support a prosecution.

Arrest update and current status

Police later identified 23-year-old Markius Gillespie as a suspect in the case. On May 10, 2025, Gillespie surrendered at the Fulton County Jail, according to an Atlanta Police Department arrest update. He was charged with murder, aggravated assault and theft by taking.

The department has emphasized that an arrest does not equal a conviction and that defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What court documents describe

Details included in publicly reported court filings describe the shooting as unfolding during a dispute linked to a cellphone. The filings state that Jackson and a female friend went to the Holderness Street residence to retrieve a phone that had been taken. Investigators documented a witness account alleging that shots were fired toward the street where Jackson and the woman were standing, and that Jackson was struck in the head.

Early information released after the shooting described the incident as beginning with a fight that escalated into gunfire.

How the public can help

Homicide investigators continue to ask anyone with information to come forward, including people who may have been in the area around the time of the shooting or who may have relevant video footage, photos, or information about the movements of those involved.

• Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line: 404-577-8477
• Text tips: text CSGA to 738477
• Online tips: StopCrimeATL.org

Police say tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

The investigation remains active as the case proceeds through the criminal justice process.