‘Angel on Earth:’ Longtime girlfriend remembers man killed by DeKalb tire shop customer

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The longtime girlfriend of the Tires Plus worker killed on the job says it’s a shame such a peaceful person died such a violent death.

DeKalb County police say 24-year-old Daniel Gordon was shot and killed by a customer who thought he was stealing his car.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones spoke to Gordon’s longtime girlfriend about the plans they had to get married and have kids.

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

Amari Bowden’s family shed tears as they hugged her as she experienced what is likely the most difficult period of her 22-year-old life. Bowden said Gordon was her everything.

“And it’s just hard losing a person like that,” she said.

The couple had been dating for eight years.

“He was an angel on Earth,” Bowden said with pride.

Bowden says Gordon was a protector, a provider, the kindest, most loving man on earth. Videos and pictures show them enjoying their life and love before it all came crashing down on New Year’s Eve.

“For him to be taken away from us so violently is not something that we expected,” she explained.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Police: Atlanta Cookout employee choked, stabbed by co-worker, baby’s father
• LIVE UPDATES: Strong storms move through the heart of metro Atlanta
• Killer Mike, high profile music execs among list of potential witnesses in Young Thug, YSL trial

Gordon was working at the Tires Plus store on DeKalb Industrial Way that day. Police say he was test driving 30-year-old Quandarious McDowell’s car after repairing it. Officers say McDowell thought Gordon was attempting to steal his car and shot and killed him.

Bowden says that doesn’t make any sense.

“He was trying to repair your car. And you shoot him?,” she said.

Bowden remembers Gordon’s brother calling her and saying he had been shot and his body was being transported to the hospital.

“And I said, ‘The body?’ So there was no chance, he never even got the chance in the ambulance,” she recalled.

Bowden wonders if the shooter knew he was firing at the most peaceful person on Earth who was beloved by his customers and took care of his parents.

She also wonders what Gordon was thinking as those bullets sucked the life out of him.

“In that moment, I know he was probably thinking about his family that he was leaving behind and everyone that loved him,” she said.

McDowell faces malice murder charges and is being held without bond. There is a memorial outside the Tires Plus store.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

‘Just a test drive:’ Co-workers remember tire shop employee who police say was killed by customer

©2022 Cox Media Group