Man charged with murder in store shooting

26-year-old suspect left the scene but was found, arrested.

An argument that started over a vehicle part erupted into deadly gunfire Thursday afternoon at a Clayton County auto parts store, police said.

When police officers arrived at about 12:30 p.m. at the O’reilly Auto Parts on Ga. 85 near Riverdale, they found Willie Heath III suffering from a gunshot wound, Clayton police spokesman Officer Jordan Parrish said in a news release. After being administered first aid at the scene, the 25-year-old was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Investigators said the man had been arguing with Raheem Titre inside the store.

“As time progressed, the argument escalated, at which time Mr. Titre responded by drawing his handgun and shooting Mr. Heath,” according to the release.

Titre, 26, of Riverdale, fled the scene after the shooting, police said, but officers quickly located him and placed him under arrest. He is charged with malice murder, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime and reckless conduct.

He remained in the Clayton jail without bond Friday.

Channel 2 Action News talked with Heath’s family, who said Titre was an O’reilly employee from another location and went to the Riverdale store to deliver batteries. Heath’s mother, Angelic, and father, Willie Heath Jr., said they were told their son ran outside as Titre shot at him through a window then fired several more times outside the store.

Police did not confirm that account, but photos from the scene show shattered glass outside the front of the store.

COURTESY A window at the O’reilly Auto Parts store on Ga. 85 in Clayton County is shattered after an argument Thursday afternoon in which 25-year-old Willie Heath III was shot. He later died at a hospital.