Honoring Snellville Residents Who Passed Away in 2007

Notable Snellville residents who passed away in the year 2007 were honored in an Atlanta Journal & Constitution article.

Mentioned:

Kathryn Bird, 90, Snellville: lived in Snellville longer than anyone, admitted she'd rather be cutting the grass than keeping house; Nov. 5, 2007.

Ms. Bird was to be honored as the Grand Marshall of the Snellville Days Parade in 2008, because she was the longest living Snellville native.

Zdzislaw Stanislaw Foltyn, 80, Snellville: fought in the Polish resistance, fled to America, founded Polish-American Heritage Society and worked on housing Polish athletes during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta; Oct. 16, 2007.

The AJC left out some other Snellville citizens who we haven't forgotten and I believe to be notable too:

Albert Chai, theowner of Mah Jong Restaurant in Snellville. Mr. Chai died of lung cancer in December, 2007.

Domingo Espinal, the owner of B & B Autos in Snellville who was tragically shot at his business during a robbery.

Obituary of Domingo Espinal:

Domingo Alfredo Espinal ESPINAL: Domingo Alfredo Espinal, age 52 of Lawrenceville, GA died November 18, 2007. He is survived by his sons, Alfredo Espinal and Brandon Espinal; mother, Bertha Espinal; father, Heriberto Reyes; brothers, Herber Reyes, Berto Reyes, Aurturo Reyes, Nelson Espinal, Walter Espinal; sister, Marleny Espinal.

Mr. Espinal was a resident of GA for the last 20 years and was owner/operator of A & B Auto Sales, Inc in Snellville for the last year and half. He was an airplane pilot, instructor and mechanic and also a helicopter pilot.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 24, at 11am at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel. Interment will be held at Lilburn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday from 10am until 9pm, and Saturday from 9am until service time, at the funeral home. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, Snellville Chapel, 770/979-3200 www.wagesfuneralhome.com

If you would like to honor someone from Snellville who died in 2007,please feel free to post a Comment. You can just leave their name if you like,but if you want to say more about the person, you can do that too.

Snellville business owner shot and killed

I am sorry to share this sad news with you today, this story from 11AliveNews:

11/18/2007 8:45:42 PM

The Snellville Police Department is investigating a robbery that ended with the death of a business owner Sunday evening.

According to Snellville Police, a suspect wearing a mask went into the A&B Autos on West Main Street attempting to rob it. During the alleged robbery, the owner of the business was reportedly shot and killed.

The victim has been identified as Domingo Alfrado Espinal, 52, of Lawerenceville.

The suspect was wearing dark, possible black clothing and possibly wearing a hoodie. The suspect is described as being 6'1" - 6'3", weighing around 240 pounds with a muscular build.

Another article:

By Saeed Ahmed
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Published on: 11/19/07

A 52-year-old auto shop owner was killed Sunday during an attempted robbery in Snellville —- the first homicide in the Gwinnett County city in at least three years, the police chief said.

Domingo Alfredo Espinal of Lawrenceville was at an auto dealership he co-owned on Main Street West when a masked man, dressed in dark clothing, went inside intending to rob him about 3:30 p.m., police said.

After the would-be robber pulled out a revolver, Espinal fought him and was shot, Chief Roy Whitehead said. The shooter ran away without taking any cash.

The chief could not immediately say how long ago Snellville had its last homicide. But at least three years had gone by without a murder in the city, he said.

UPDATE: Apparently, the shooter wore a Halloween mask from the movie Scream.
Mr. Espinal's 17 year old son witnessed his father's shooting.

Do you know anyone who owns a mask like that and fits the description? Anyone fitting the description, has a mask like that, and has been acting odd lately? Keep your eyes open, this is not someone we want running around.

My prayers are with the Espinal family today.