Man who accidentally shot co-worker, father of 13 to death charged

Friend and family are mourning a father of 13 who was shot accidentally by a passenger in his own car as he drove on Interstate 285.

The shooting happened near Flat Shoals Road Thursday morning in DeKalb County.

Police have identified the victim as 41-year-old Mario Washington and the shooter as 29-year-old Cedric Martin.

Channel 2's Tom Regan learned that Washington was a father of 13 and that he worked with Martin at a DeKalb County Waffle House.

Washington was driving down I-285 with his wife, Martin and another family member after picking her up from work around 3 a.m.

Police said Martin was fidgeting with the gun he recently got when it accidentally went off.

"He was in the back seat, he was fidgeting with the gun," Shierra Campbell with DeKalb County police said. "The gun discharged and went into the backside of the victim."

Washington was able to pull over the shoulder but died on the way to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Police have determined the shooting was not intentional.

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Regan talked to Washington's co-workers at Waffle House, who said they are devastated. Washington had worked at the store as a cook for 10 years, manager Gerald Hooks told Regan.

"The Waffle House family is really mourning today," Hooks said. "Everyone is trying to cope with what's going on. The customers and everyone. It's been a really hard day."

His co-workers say they are keeping Washington and his large family in their prayers.

"We miss him. The customers are going to miss him. It's just a sad situation." Hooks said. "Our respects to the family. We're sorry for the family."

Martin has been taken to jail and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

There is no word yet on funeral arrangements.

Cox Media Group