Man Convicted Of Fatally Shooting Decatur Deacon

DECATUR, GA -- A Decatur man has been convicted in the shooting death of a church deacon, Patch has learned. Jacob Pyne, 24, was convicted June 30 on multiple charges, including felony murder and aggravated assault in the shooting death of 52-year-old Gerard Foster, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.

Foster was a deacon at Living Water Christian Baptist Church in Decatur. Last July, Decatur police responding to a shots fired call at an apartment complex on Robins Street found Foster suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest, neck and head, the DA's Office said. (To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the Decatur Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Foster was rushed to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. Police reviewing security camera footage from the apartments saw Pyne on video leaving the scene with a woman on the night of the murder.

Witnesses also reported hearing shots fired and seeing a getaway car speed off.

A clear motive has never been established for the slaying. Authorities believe that the incident began when Foster and Pyne crossed each other in the apartments breezeway and some sort of disagreement occurred.

Christonya Section, an indicted co-defendant, will face a DeKalb jury at a later date, the DA said.

Pyne is due back in court for sentencing on July 26, the DA's Office said.

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