Decatur man sentenced to life for deadly shooting stemming from a landlord dispute

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A DeKalb County jury has convicted a Decatur man in the shooting death of a woman who rented a home from his father and the assault of her fiancé, authorities announced.

The backstory:

On Sept. 22, 2021, a tragic incident unfolded in unincorporated Decatur on Dove Valley Road, leading to the death of 40-year-old Kateasha Cardell and the assault of her fiancé, 48-year-old Karlo Dupree. The couple had been renting a home from the father of Danny John Marillo Hunter, the man later convicted in connection with the events of that day. According to Dupree, they had an ongoing dispute with their landlord over alleged utility shutoffs, which they believed were attempts to force them out of the property. Cardell had also discovered discrepancies in her bank account, which she suspected were linked to their landlord.

On the day of the shooting, Cardell and Dupree went to their landlord’s home to address these issues. While they were speaking with Hunter and his father outside the house, Hunter went inside, retrieved a revolver, and returned to fatally shoot Cardell. Dupree managed to flee the scene in his car as Hunter fired another shot at him. He drove to the DeKalb County Jail to seek help from law enforcement.

What we know:

Danny John Marillo Hunter, 34, was arrested at the scene and later found guilty by a DeKalb County jury of involuntary manslaughter, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Shondeana Morris sentenced Hunter to life in prison. Investigators found no evidence that either Cardell or Dupree was armed during the confrontation, contradicting Hunter's claim that he acted to protect his father from threats made by the couple.

What they're saying:

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction, emphasizing the impact of the crime. "This senseless act of violence has left a family grieving and has forever altered lives," Boston stated.