Former Georgia WR arrested, charged with 2021 murder of gas station attendant
A former Georgia wide receiver was arrested on Wednesday and charged with the 2021 murder of an Athens-area gas station attendant, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office announced, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Ahkil Crumpton was arrested and charged after police said he shot and killed 23-year-old Elijah James Wood at a RaceTrac gas station early on March 19, 2021. Crumpton, a Philadelphia native who has been under investigation since last month, allegedly was dressed in all black with a face covering on when he killed Wood — who was later found dead behind the counter by a customer.
Crumpton was arrested in Philadelphia after officials said they matched the shell casing from the gas station shooting to another crime scene in Philadelphia.
“For the past year we have seen the pain, agony, and frustrations this murder has brought to Elijah’s family, friends, and to our community,” Sheriff James A. Hale said in a statement. “We all know this arrest will not bring Elijah back, but we hope his family, friends, and this community can now begin the healing process. We also know that the fight is not over. We must now successfully prosecute the case in a court of law.”
Crumpton played at Georgia for two seasons in 2017 and 2018, and had 10 receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown during that span.
“We were stunned to learn that the suspect in this horrific crime is a former UGA student-athlete,” the UGA Athletic Association said in a statement, via the Journal-Constitution. “We offer our heartfelt sympathy to Elijah Wood’s family.”
