Police: Robbery attempt led to deadly gas station shootout in DeKalb

Attempted robbery ends in deadly shooting

Police say a robbery attempt led to a shootout at a Covington Highway gas station, killing 19-year-old Tristyn Mays. The surviving victim ran to Cove Lane and is expected to recover; investigators ruled he acted in self-defense. The two scenes are connected, and no additional suspects or charges have been announced.

LITHONIA, Ga. - DeKalb County police say a deadly shooting outside a Lithonia-area gas station led to a second crime scene nearby, leaving one man dead and another hospitalized Monday night.

What we know:

Officers first responded around 7:33 p.m. to the 6400 block of Covington Highway, where they found 19-year-old Tristyn Mays dead from a gunshot wound in front of a gas station. A second shooting victim was discovered minutes later in a neighborhood behind the station, on Cove Lane. That man was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.

Investigators now say the two scenes are connected. According to police, Mays attempted to rob the surviving victim at the gas station, prompting both men to open fire on each other. Detectives believe the injured man then ran from the parking lot to Cove Lane before officers arrived.

Police say the surviving victim acted in self-defense and no charges will be filed against him.

What we don't know:

Authorities previously had not released details on the victims’ identities or what led to the shootings. They have not announced any additional suspects or charges.