DeKalb County Jury Convicts Lithonia Man in Tucker Motel Murder
DECATUR, Georgia – A DeKalb County jury convicted a Lithonia man on November 5 of malice murder in the Tucker motel shooting that killed 30-year-old Shalileha Alford. The judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 20 years.
Jurors found 38-year-old Antonio Robert Watson guilty of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, first-degree home invasion and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. They also convicted him of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of certain felonies, District Attorney Sherry Boston’s office said.
Superior Court Judge Courtney L. Johnson presided over the trial. She sentenced Watson immediately after the verdict.
What investigators say happened
Officers with the DeKalb County Police Department went to an extended stay motel on Crescent Centre Boulevard in Tucker just before 8 a.m. on April 15, 2025, after a report of a person shot. They found Alford unconscious in the bathtub. Officers also found three shell casings and shattered glass on the sidewalk outside her room, and more shell casings inside.
A man who called himself “Robert” had already called 911. He told the dispatcher Alford had robbed him and her dog had bitten him. The recording then captured multiple gunshots, and the caller claimed Alford had shot at him. Records showed the phone number belonged to Watson.
Motel surveillance video showed a dark gray Nissan Altima registered to Watson pull into the parking lot at 7:35 a.m. At 7:45 a.m., a man matching Watson’s description got out and walked to Alford’s room. Cameras recorded him knocking on the door. Alford pulled back the curtain to look outside but did not open the door.
Minutes later, with the 911 call still going, Watson took a handgun from his pocket and fired several shots into the window, according to the investigation. He climbed through the broken glass, fired more shots inside, ran back to his car and drove away.
The prosecutor’s office said the video directly contradicted Watson’s claim that Alford shot at him. She died a little more than an hour later.
Call the day before
Police learned Alford had called 911 the day before the shooting to report that Watson assaulted her. She told officers he forced his way into her motel room, punched her repeatedly and hit her in the head with a handgun. She said Watson, whom she had been casually dating, threatened to shoot her in the face.
Arrest after a brief chase
Hours after the shooting, a Georgia State Patrol trooper spotted Watson’s car and tried to pull him over on Memorial Drive near Candler Road. Watson did not stop and led the trooper on a brief chase. Troopers ended it with a PIT maneuver and took Watson into custody without further incident.
The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit handled the case. Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Johnson prosecuted it with help from Assistant District Attorney Aaron L. Brown, District Attorney Investigator J. Justus and Victim Advocates Ashley King, Shelbie Rainwater and Veronica Pelaez-Maya. DeKalb County police Detectives Posey and Kearney led the initial investigation.
