DEKALB COUNTY, GA- A father, identified as 42-year-old Dante Daugherty, is facing charges of second-degree murder and child cruelty following a tragic incident that left his 7-year-old son dead. The incident occurred after Daugherty allegedly left his two sons, aged 6 and 7, unattended in a car with a loaded firearm.
The incident, which took place at a Texaco station, was captured on surveillance video. The footage, however, does not provide a clear account of the exact moment the fatal shooting occurred.
According to the police and arrest warrants, the video shows Daugherty leaving his sons in the car before entering the gas station. The warrants further state that the children found the firearm in the car, resulting in the 7-year-old boy being shot in the head. The specifics of the moments leading up to the gun discharging remain undisclosed.
The surveillance footage reveals a scene of panic, with one of the boys seen sprinting from the car and running away from the gas station. The exact timing of the gunshot and the circumstances surrounding it remain unclear. The video does not show when Daugherty discovered his son’s fatal injury.
Following the incident, a police statement confirmed the death of the 7-year-old boy and Daugherty’s subsequent arrest. He was taken into custody and is currently being held at the DeKalb County Jail. Daugherty made his first court appearance on Wednesday, where he was denied bond. The date for his next court appearance has not been set.