Dallas Man Dies, Shooter Now Faces Murder Charges: Police

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — An Atlanta man faces murder charges, upgraded from assault charges, after a Dallas man died of his injuries March 3. Police say he was shot during a brawl last month at a Doraville recycling center.

James Gilliland, 59, a truck driver, died while he was recovering in a local hospital with serious injuries following a Feb. 8 road rage incident at Metro Green Recycling, on Pleasantdale Road in Gwinnett County.

The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on the body March 4 and, based on those results, authorities ruled the case a homicide.

(For more news like this, sign up for Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Dallas and Hiram — or other neighborhoods. Access Patch on the go with our iPhone app or our brand new app for Android phone users.)

After a murder warrant was issued, Jamarsa Williams, 31, of Atlanta turned himself in to the Gwinnett County Jail March 6.

Williams was originally charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The dispute began on a local roadway, officers and detectives determined. Police say Williams was angry with Gilliland, who was driving a commercial vehicle, and some debris came from his truck. Williams followed Gilliland into the parking lot of the recycling facility. Gilliland pulled onto the vehicle scale, while Williams parked his vehicle a short distance away just in front of the control booth.
According to police, Williams exited his vehicle while Gilliland retrieved a crow bar from his truck. Williams walked over to Gilliland and Gilliland began to hit Williams with the crowbar. Then, according to police, Williams retreated back to his car and got a firearm and returned to Gilliland and shot him in the abdomen.

Despite being wounded, Gilliland was able to get back in his truck and move it a short distance and waited for an ambulance. Williams put his firearm on the hood of his car and waited for the police to arrive.

There were several witnesses to this event, and the incident was also captured on video surveillance, police reported.