Wheelchair-Bound Man Sentenced to Life for Gas Station Murder in Gwinnett County
Willie Lee Jones, 48, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus five years, for the fatal shooting of Benjamin Alonzo Francis, 64, at a Gwinnett County gas station on May 10, 2023. Convicted of multiple charges including murder and possession of a firearm during a felony, Jones claimed self-defense after the two men had a confrontation, but the jury rejected this defense. District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson emphasized that vigilantism is not an acceptable way to resolve disputes, highlighting the senseless loss of life and the impact on Francis' family.