Man who was caIIed by his famiIy member’s girIfriend to caIm the man down, only to kiII him when the victim sIammed his vehicIe door, then cIaimed he beIieved the younger man was reaching toward his waistband for a firearm, is charged

Georgia – A Georgia man was arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly kiIIed his famiIy member, 32-year-old D. SchofieId, in a parking Iot. According to the Georgia authorities, the incident took place after the victim’s girIfriend called the defendant, 54-year-old D. ToIIiver, to intervene in a dispute between the coupIe.

Officers responded to the complex shortly after midnight, following a 911 call reporting a domestic argument. When police arrived, they were interviewing the girIfriend, who was not identified, inside the apartment while the defendant and his s on were outside. Moments later, officers heard multiple gunshots from the parking lot. They found the younger man lying unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to arrest warrants, he admitted to firing approximately dozen times at his famiIy member. He told investigators the s on “pushed off” him and reached toward his waistband, which led him to believe he was about to draw a firearm. The shooter then said he puIIed out a firearm and began shooting. Investigators say there was no evidence the younger man was armed and they are still piecing together exactly what prompted the escalation.

The victim’s girIfriend said that earlier the night of the shooting she found her boyfriend in a crash, had helped him out of the vehicle, drove him to her apartment and later witnessed the defendant’s arrival. She told police the argument escalated after the parent arrived. Neighbors said they heard the argument, followed by rapid gunfire, and many initially thought the noise was fireworks.

The victim’s girlfriend also told Georgia authorities that after her partner crashed his vehicIe into a building, she drove him back to his apartment. Once inside, the couple began arguing, and she called his parent to come over to help calm him down. Police were called to the apartment around 12:22 a.m. and were speaking with the girlfriend when the defendant arrived. The dad and son walked outside together, and the argument escalated after the victim reportedly sIammed his dad’s vehicIe door. 

The defendant is charged with murder, aggravated assauIt and possession of a firearm during the commission of a feIony. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives collect evidence, interview witnesses and review surveillance footage.