Good Samaritan Who Helped Stranded Man at Gas Station Was Then Murdered by Him, Man Convicted
A Georgia man who was convicted this week of murdering the stranger who helped him when he was stranded at a gas station has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences — more than five years after the killing.
Ryan Anson Carter, 41, was found guilty on April 28, 2026, of killing 29-year-old Jamaal Cobb in August 2020, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.
What Happened That Morning
On August 23, 2020, Carter had been stranded at a gas station in Atlanta after his girlfriend left him there following an argument. Jamaal Cobb, a young man who happened to be nearby, offered to help. He let Carter use his phone to call the girlfriend and then agreed to drive Carter to Lithonia Park — roughly 15 to 16 miles from the gas station — near where the woman lived.
Just after 7:00 a.m., Carter fatally shot Cobb at Lithonia Park. He then took Cobb's vehicle, drove approximately 16 miles to Lilburn, and disposed of Cobb's phone. Investigators later that morning found Cobb lying in a pool of blood on a basketball court, after a woman walking her dog came across the scene.
How Carter Was Caught
Investigators were able to track Carter using the stolen vehicle and a firearm recovered from inside it. Phone records connecting Carter to Cobb's device also helped establish the sequence of events. The case moved through the courts over the following years before reaching trial.
The Conviction and Sentence
A jury found Carter guilty on April 28, 2026 — nearly six years after the killing. He was convicted on multiple counts: malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Carter was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus an additional five years to be served consecutively. The DeKalb County District Attorney's Office announced the verdict and sentencing in a statement.
Who Was Jamaal Cobb
Cobb was 29 years old at the time of his death. According to an online obituary, he had been a high school honor student and went on to study communications in college. Those who knew him described a warm and curious person.
"Jamaal was an avid writer, who loved to travel with aspirations of exploring abroad," the tribute read. "To have known Jamaal was to love Jamaal; his smile could melt the coldest heart."
Cobb had done nothing except offer a helping hand to a stranger in a difficult moment. That decision — to stop, to offer his phone, to drive a man he did not know to a safer location — cost him his life. His conviction was more than five years in the making.
Carter will spend the rest of his life in prison.
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