Channel 2 Action News obtained exclusive surveillance camera video of a security guard shooting at a passing SUV outside a popular Midtown Atlanta restaurant. Atlanta Police later arrested the guard and charged him with aggravated assault.
According to police, security guard Dexter Washington was working in the parking lot of Mary Mac’s Tea Room Friday night when he claimed the driver of an SUV attempted to exit through the lot entrance.
Investigators say Washington claimed the SUV bumped him, so he chased it down Myrtle Street and stood in its path as it attempted to drive onto Ponce de Leon Avenue.
The video shows Washington arguing with the driver who never gets out of his SUV. It seems to show Washington pull his pistol.
The victim later told police that he never bumped Washington and didn’t know who the guard was when he stood in front of the SUV. The victim explained he feared for his life so he attempted to drive away.
The video obtained by Channel 2′s Richard Elliot shows the victim swerve around Washington without touching him then Washington firing four shots shattering the passenger side window. The victim was not injured, stopped and waited for police.
Byron Davis was eating at a restaurant across the street and witnessed the incident.
“I heard a shot, and I turned around,” said Davis. “I saw, I thought was a police officer or a security guard shooting at a car that was speeding up to Ponce. I never saw the guard get bumped. It looked like the car was moving away from him. He was actually chasing the car.”
Records obtained through the state’s Professional Licensing Board show Washington had the proper license to be guard and to carry an exposed firearm, but they also show he had only been a licensed guard for about two weeks when the shooting happened.
Mary Mac’s Tea Room is an Atlant a institution for more than 70-years. In a statement, one of its owners Hank Thompson said, “We are extremely concerned about this unfortunate incident and are cooperating with the investigation any way we can.”
Elliot attempted to contact the security company Washington worked for, but calls were not returned.
Washington remains in the Fulton County Jail without bond.
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