73-year-old ex-dentist charged after man shot dead outside Atlanta office

Written by: A. Smith

Published February 24, 2026 @ 9:11 AM ET

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A 73-year-old former dentist appeared in court Monday after police said he shot and killed a man outside his former office over the weekend.

David Mays is charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He is being held at the Fulton County Jail.

Atlanta police responded to the building in the 3400 block of Martin Luther King Drive SW around 3:05 p.m. Saturday for a report of a person shot.

When officers arrived, they found a man, identified as Monterio Spurling, 37, who was not breathing and suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Mays was detained at the scene Saturday and formally charged Sunday.

A sign on the front of the building read “Dr. David Mays, Dentist.” Records show Mays has not been licensed in dentistry since 1996.

Police have not confirmed what led up to the shooting. The Atlanta Police Department’s homicide unit is leading the investigation.