Nationwide — Tony Matthews, a 48-year-old African American father from DeKalb County, Georgia, died six days after being shot outside a Kroger in Brookhaven along Peachtree Road. Police say he was among several victims in a series of random shootings.
Family members said they first saw reports about the Brookhaven shooting but did not realize Matthews was the victim. Because he had no identification on him, officers could not identify him at the scene and initially thought he may have been homeless while sleeping outside the store, even though he had a wife and a baby at home.
According to 11Alive, his relatives said they only learned the truth days later when hospital staff confirmed Matthews had been admitted with critical injuries. He remained in intensive care as doctors worked to stabilize his condition.
His brother, Michael, said the moment he saw him in the hospital was painful and hard to process. He said, “It was horrific. I’m still trying to cope with it. I just don’t understand the mannerism of the person who did that. What is going on in this world that people are taking random shots at people? I just can’t understand that.”
Family members said Matthews briefly showed signs of improvement and was able to communicate without speaking. His condition later declined, and he died six days after the shooting.
Loved ones described Matthews as a devoted husband and father. He is survived by his wife and their 10-month-old daughter. They also said he had begun the process of adopting his wife’s three other children and treated them as his own.
Police linked the shooting to 26-year-old Olaolukitan Adon Abel, who they say carried out multiple shootings across DeKalb County within hours. The attacks also left two women dead, including one near a Checkers restaurant and another while walking her dog, in what investigators described as random acts of violence.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover expenses as they mourn the loss of a husband and father.