A months-long conflict between a Tucker, Ga., body shop owner and a disgruntled customer ended Monday when the shop owner George Tyrones, 46, of European Autocare Center reportedly was murdered at his shop.
Shop employees told police that the accused murderer, Troy Johnson, was unhappy with a repair performed by the shop and that he had been arguing with Tyrones about the the outstanding $800 repair bill for months, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported.
A police report filed by Tyrones says that on Oct. 2, Johnson reportedly visited the shop to pay his bill, dropped off a suitcase full of coins he claimed added up to $800, snatched his car keys and drove off in his repaired vehicle.
On Monday, Johnson returned to the shop to confront Tyrones again. After arguing briefly, Johnson reportedly shot Tyrones in the head, threatened another employee and fled the scene in a pickup truck driven by a friend, the newspaper said. Both Johnson and his friend have been charged with murder and will appear in court Nov. 3.
“The entire staff is just shocked and devastated at what transpired,” shop employee Michael Veraart told the Journal-Constitution. “Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and kids. He was a great guy. Very, very nice.”
Tyrones inherited the body shop along with his brother after their father’s death. He also operated another business, Old World Motorcars, the newspaper reported.
Tyrones is survived by his wife, Andrea, and two daughters ages 5 and 3. Click HERE for Tyrones’ full obituary.