The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Police: Shooter was provoked in fatal Walmart lot argument
An argument in the parking lot of a crowded metro Atlanta Walmart got physical before it turned deadly, according to police.
Snellville police have released new details in the Sunday night shooting that killed Fadil D elkic, 49, of Lawrenceville. Troy Hunte, 27, of Grayson faces a charge of voluntary manslaughter in connection with his death.
Hunte is being held in the Gwinnett County Jail with- out bond.
Witnesses at the Walmart on Scenic Highway in Snell- ville told Channel 2 Action News it appeared the men were arguing over a parking space when a shot rang out. Police later said Hunte’s fian- cée, who has not been iden- tified, began arguing with Delkic over how close his car came to her as she walked through the parking lot, the news station reported.
Police responded just before 6 p.m. Sunday.
“The investigation deter- mined that Hunte, Hunte’s fiancée, and Delkic got into a verbal argument in the parking lot,” Lt. J. McKinney said in a statement. “The verbal argument turned physical when Mr. Hunte’s fiancée struck Mr. Delkic in the face.”
Soon after, Hunte pulled a handgun from his pocket, McKinney said. Delkic was shot once in the chest.
The gunfire sent people running for cover inside and outside the store.
The scene was so cha- otic, shoppers told the news station, that families became separated. Some believed there was an active shooter situation, Channel 2 reported.
Delkic was taken by medics to Gwinnett Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Family members said Delkic was a Bosnian ref- ugee who survived prison during the Bosnian War in the 1990s, according to the news station.
Investigators worked with the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office to decide on the voluntary manslaughter charge. According to an arrest warrant obtained by Chan- nel 2, Hunte was provoked.
“Hunte killed Delkic under circumstances that would otherwise be murder, but accused acted solely as a result of a sudden, violent, and irre- sistible passion resulting from serious provocation,” police said in the warrant.
Delkic’s family insists he did nothing to provoke the shooting, the news station reported.
The incident is still under investigation, McKinney said. Anyone who witnessed the shooting is asked to contact the Snellville Police Depart- ment at 770-985-3555 to provide a statement.