March 18, 2022

State vs. Christie Montgomery

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against a Stone Mountain woman accused of shooting and killing a man staying with her roommate. Jurors returned guilty verdicts Monday against 35-year-old Christie Montgomery on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Justice Jackson.

The fatal incident occurred on May 17, 2018 at an apartment complex on Wood Bend Drive in Stone Mountain where Defendant Montgomery lived with her young child and a roommate. Victim Jackson occasionally stayed with the roommate, who rented a room from the defendant. According to the investigation, Defendant Montgomery returned to her apartment around 4:00 a.m. with a group of acquaintances and her child. When she arrived, she accused her roommate, the victim and a mutual friend who was also in the apartment of stealing her marijuana, and ordered them to leave. After exiting the apartment, the roommate realized she had lost her cell phone. The group returned to search for the item, which angered Defendant Montgomery. She retrieved her gun, walked outside, and shot Jackson once in the chest. The victim fell to the ground, pulled out his weapon and fired. His shot did not hit anyone. The roommate and friend attempted to find a neighbor to call 911. The acquaintances who came to the apartment with the defendant fled. Montgomery returned to her apartment and locked the door. Jackson was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

When police arrived, Defendant Montgomery refused to answer the door. A few hours later, they forced entry into the apartment and found her with her child. She claimed that she kicked the roommate, victim and friend out after they stole money from her, and that she heard several shots when she closed the door.

Following her conviction, Defendant Montgomery was sentenced to life in prison plus 5 years by DeKalb Superior Court Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Allison Layton, with assistance from Senior ADA Andrew Turner, DA Investigator Matthew McClendon, and Victim Advocate Desiree Livingston. Detective B. Smith of the DeKalb County Police Department led the initial investigation.