Update: Warrants in deadly hit and run on hold pending further investigation

Update

Gwinnett County Police Department reports that it is holding off on issuing warrants for Anita Mustafi, the alleged suspect in Monday’s hit and run, pending further investigation after Mustafi and her attorney made contact with the lead investigator in this case. GCPD report that she is cooperating with investigators and a decision on any criminal charges will be made at the completion of the investigation.

Update

Gwinnett County Police Department report that the female suspect, in this case, has been identified as Anita Mustafi (27) of Lawrenceville. She was identified from a previous encounter that was handled by the Lawrenceville Police department. She was not home when investigators went to her home, but they did locate the gray 2009 Kia Sportage reported in the initial release. Investigators are currently in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle and warrants for Mustafi’s arrest. She will be charged with felony hit and run. If anyone knows of her whereabouts they are encouraged to call Gwinnett Police or Crime Stoppers Atlanta.

The deceased has been identified as Melissa Wheeler (50) of Decatur. Her next of kin have been notified.

Initial story

(Duluth, Georgia) Gwinnett Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a deadly hit-and-run incident that happened overnight at 2001 Pleasant Hill Road in the Duluth area of unincorporated Gwinnett County. Police responded to the scene of a person hit by a vehicle just before 11 p.m. last night, Dec. 10, 2018. Officers found a 50-year-old black woman lying in the parking lot. She was transported by fire personnel to a local hospital where she subsequently died as a result of her injuries. The Gwinnett County Police Accident Investigation Unit was called to investigate and the following is the preliminary report from AIU.

During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the suspect, only identified as an unknown race female possibly in her 20’s, had an altercation with two black females near the gas pumps. The suspect female went inside the gas station and paid for her gas and a few snack items. An unidentified black male, which had parked a couple of pumps over from her, began talking to the female suspect. A few moments later she begins to leave and has a verbal altercation with two black females that were at the pump next to her. She stops and the black females appear to try to open her vehicle door and start a physical altercation. The suspect female flees by pulling around the gas pumps and one of the black females tries to block her in. The two black females again confront the suspect female. They open her vehicle door and a physical altercation ensues. The suspect female backs up and one of the black females is struck by the vehicle door. She falls and is ultimately run over by the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle then flees the scene. A vehicle that was parked next to the victim’s vehicle leaves prior to police arrival and the black male that originally was talking to the suspect female also leaves.

The suspect female is described as a light-skinned, unknown race, female, approximately in her 20’s, with brown hair in a “messy bun” style hairdo. She was wearing a dark-colored NIKE hoodie with another jacket over it, and matching sweatpants.

If anyone has any information to share in this case, they are asked to contact GCPD detectives at 678-442-5653. To remain anonymous, tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org<http://www.crimestoppersatlanta.org/>. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number:  18-114649