Decatur Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Fatal Shooting of Ex-Girlfriend’s Friend

DECATUR, Ga. — A DeKalb County jury convicted a Decatur man of murder after prosecutors said he fatally shot a man who had driven his ex-girlfriend home from work.

According to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, 49-year-old Aaron La Var Beckles was found guilty May 13, 2026, of Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The charges stemmed from the Dec. 4, 2024, killing of 47-year-old Isaac Jackson Jr.

Prosecutors said Beckles had been involved in a volatile relationship with a woman for several months prior to the shooting.

Investigators said the woman blocked Beckles on her phone the morning of the shooting, but he continued calling and texting her throughout the day asking to see her.

That evening, Jackson, who was a friend of the woman, drove her home from work. Prosecutors said the pair sat in Jackson’s vehicle in the driveway eating takeout before the woman noticed Beckles had arrived and blocked Jackson’s vehicle with his own car.

Authorities said Beckles confronted the woman, knocking food containers from her hands before she ran toward the house for safety.

As she waited for someone to open the door, prosecutors said she saw Beckles chasing Jackson and then heard multiple gunshots.

Family members called 911 and identified Beckles as the shooter, according to investigators.

Officers with the DeKalb County Police Department arrived and found Jackson dead inside the front seat of his vehicle.

Beckles fled the scene but was arrested two days later, authorities said.

Investigators recovered text messages from Beckles’ phone allegedly sent minutes before the shooting stating, “either call me back or I’m about to pull up.” Prosecutors said he later sent another message after the shooting reading, “I’m sorry i love you call me please.”

Cell phone location data also placed Beckles near the home at the time of the shooting, according to prosecutors.

Following the guilty verdicts, Courtney L. Johnson sentenced Beckles to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional five years.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Helen Pott with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Aaron Brown.