Man Convicted of Murder and Aggravated Assault in Separate Shootings at Same Apartment Complex in DeKalb County

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction of Rontell Devon Shelton, 40, of Stone Mountain, following a jury trial. Shelton was found guilty on Friday, April 18, 2025, for the murder of 28-year-old Jordan McPherson on December 30, 2019, as well as the aggravated assault of another man at the same apartment complex just eleven days prior, on December 19, 2019.

The jury convicted Shelton of Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with McPherson’s death. He was also found guilty of Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony for the earlier shooting.

The investigation revealed that on December 19, 2019, DeKalb County Police Department officers responded to a shooting at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of South Hairston Road. They found a 28-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. The victim, who survived, later identified Shelton in a photo lineup as the man who shot him during a confrontation involving the victim’s girlfriend.

Just days later, on December 30, 2019, officers responded to another shooting at the same complex and found Jordan McPherson with fatal gunshot wounds to the abdomen. A witness stated that Shelton shot McPherson after McPherson questioned him for kicking his dog. The shooting occurred in front of two children.

Ballistics testing confirmed that the bullet casings from both shootings came from the same firearm.

Following the guilty verdicts, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson sentenced Shelton to Life Without the Possibility of Parole, plus an additional 25 years.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Scacco, with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Reid White and a team of investigators and victim advocates. The investigations were led by DeKalb County Police Department Detectives Redrick and Byars.