November 22, 2021

State vs. Justin Gold

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against a man accused of stabbing a family friend over a $125 debt. Jurors returned guilty verdicts last Tuesday against 27-year-old Justin Gold on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Knife during the Commission of a Felony in connection with the stabbing death of 38-year-old Antoine DePass.

The fatal incident occurred on September 11, 2018 at 1301 Thicket Way in Decatur, where Defendant Gold lived. DePass, a family friend, traveled to Gold’s apartment to pay him $125 he claimed he was owed. Gold became angry with DePass, pulled out a knife, and stabbed him nearly 20 times in the face, head, chest and heart. Gold left DePass bleeding in the grass, changed his clothes, collected the weapon, and called an Uber. When the driver arrived and saw the victim, she questioned Gold. He claimed not to know the victim and tried to convince her to drive away. The driver refused and called 911. Gold fled the scene.

When police arrived, DePass had succumbed to his injuries. The Uber driver gave a description of Gold, his Uber username and the address to which he had requested transport. Officers found Gold at the Missionary Drive address provided by the driver. He attempted to flee, but officers were able to get him into the patrol car, along with a bag the Uber driver had seen him carrying. The bag contained Gold’s identification, clothing with blood on the pants, and a large butcher knife also covered in blood. The defendant was taken to headquarters for questioning where he changed his story multiple times before claiming he acted in self-defense.

Following his conviction, Defendant Gold was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 5 years to run consecutively by DeKalb Juvenile Court Judge Fatima El-Amin, sitting for DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alana Driscoll, with assistance from Senior ADA Leah Hightower, DA Investigator Solomon Bibbs, and Victim Advocate Yuzellie Garcia. Detective D. McBride of the DeKalb County Police Department led the initial investigation.