Police searching for ‘armed and dangerous’ man who they say shot 22-year-old to death in Smyrna

This browser does not support the video element.

SMYRNA, Ga. — Police are searching for an armed and dangerous man they say shot a 22-year-old man to death in Smyrna earlier this week.

Police say the shooting happened May 16 around 10 p.m. outside a store on the 1600 block of Roswell Street. Police found the victim, 22-year-old Michael Ezzard Jr., dead at the scene.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police said the shooter, who they described as an “unknown black male” fled the scene in a gray Honda four-door vehicle that a woman was driving.

The car was last seen traveling westbound on Hawthorne Ave.

TRENDING STORIES:

Channel 2′s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell obtained surveillance video of the shooting, which shows the victim hold the door open for two woman as all three walk out of the store. They chat on the sidewalk for a few minutes before a man in a black hoodie first walks, then runs up behind Ezzard, struggles with him for a few moments over the gun and then shoots him.

Video shows the shooter run away as the two women panic. A few moments later, a car pulls up in the parking lot and a different man gets up, runs over to Ezzard, then gets back in the car and drives away. Family members told Newel that was Ezzard’s cousin, who drove him to the location, checking on him and then fleeing out of fear.

The video is disturbing, but Ezzard’s family has asked Channel 2 Action News to release parts of it in order to help find Ezzard’s killer. The video has been blurred and paused several moments before the fatal shooting actual occurred.

Police also provided surveillance photos of the shooter and the car he fled the scene in. They are asking for the public’s help to identify him.

Police say the man should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the person in the photo or the car is asked to call 911 or the Smyrna Police Department at 770-434-6666.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Tipsters can remain anonymous by submitting tips to Crime Stoppers at 404-577-(TIPS)8477 or accessing Crime Stoppers online at www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.

This browser does not support the video element.