GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A court hearing on Friday revealed new details about a murder-for-hire plot that ended with a woman’s death at a Gwinnett County car dealership.
The alleged hitman said he planned to also kill the man who hired him, according to detectives.
Channel 2′s Matt Johnson has reported for weeks on this case that has taken several twists and turns and was the only reporter inside the courtroom on Friday.
Courtney Owens was gunned down in cold blood while at work at Royal Court Motors on Dec. 9. Wesley Vickers, 23, was arrested nearly a month later on Jan. 6 and charged with felony murder, malice murder and aggravated assault.
Detectives believe Vickers was hired by Owens’ ex-boyfriend and business partner, 41-year-old Stoney Williams, to kill Owens. Williams remains on the run.
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During a court hearing Friday, a detective testified that Williams owned the dealership with Owens and offered Vickers $20,000 to kill her and make it look like a robbery.
Vickers was told he would get $5,000 up front and would get $15,000 during the fake robbery, according to court testimony.
Williams also allegedly offered Vickers $4,800 before Owens’ murder to “send a message” by shooting up the house where she was staying at with a friend in Fairburn.
Police said Vickers admitted to shooting and killing Owens and that he was going to kill Williams too on the day of the murder, but he never showed up.
“The plan was for Courtney to be at the dealership at approximately 2:15 and for him to arrive and do a kind of robbery and shoot her in the process. During that robbery the plan was to get an additional $15,000 from Mr. Williams pockets,” the detective testified.
Police believe Williams may have had cameras removed from inside and outside the business on the day of the shooting. Police issue warrants for Williams for murder and he remains on the run
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