DECATUR, GA – A Decatur woman has been found guilty of manslaughter in a recent trial held in DeKalb County. She is currently awaiting her sentence. The district attorney’s office confirmed the verdict, which also included two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a felony against Aziza El-Shair, 41.
Originally, El-Shair was facing a murder charge, but court records indicate she was acquitted of this accusation. The incident, a fatal shooting, occurred in the Panthersville neighborhood on May 29, 2019. Derrick Pharr, 33, was found shot and later died in the hospital from his injuries.
According to the district attorney’s office, the shooting was instigated when El-Shair’s then-husband discovered his gun was missing. He wrongfully accused Pharr of stealing it and confronted him at his family’s home.
When El-Shair returned home and saw Pharr, she became irate and demanded he leave. After he left, she followed and shot at him, hitting him. Pharr fired back but missed. El-Shair then circled the block in her car and waited for the police to arrive.
The sentencing for El-Shair will be announced in the coming weeks, according to District Attorney Sherry Boston.