Father Arrested on Serious Charges Following a Heartbreaking Incident
In a heart-wrenching incident that occurred on September 4th, a 7-year-old boy lost his life at a Texaco gas station located at 1801 Rock Chapel Road in Lithonia, Georgia. The tragedy unfolded as surveillance cameras captured the events that led to this devastating loss, resulting in the arrest of the boy’s father, 42-year-old Dante Daugherty, on charges of murder.
As the sun set on that fateful day, Dante Daugherty arrived at the Texaco gas station, accompanied by his two young sons, aged 6 and 7. The security cameras captured the moment when the family pulled up to a pump, and the two boys briefly exited the vehicle. However, moments later, they reentered the car as their father stepped into the store.
Tragedy struck a short while later when the 6-year-old child abruptly bolted out of the passenger side door and ran away. When Dante Daugherty returned from the store, he made a devastating discovery: his 7-year-old son, later identified as Zayre Daugherty, had tragically lost his life.
The DeKalb County Police Department and emergency medical personnel swiftly responded to a report of a shooting at the gas station around 6:30 p.m. The situation escalated rapidly as it became evident that this was not a typical incident.
Dante Daugherty was arrested and transported to DeKalb County Jail. Arrest warrants obtained by FOX 5 revealed that Daugherty had left a loaded pistol in the vehicle, which the children found while he was inside the store. Tragically, the firearm discharged, resulting in a gunshot wound to young Zayre’s head. Remarkably, none of the store employees reported hearing the gunfire.
The gas station’s regular customers, like Akbar Dhanani, expressed their shock and sadness over the incident. Dhanani, who considered Daugherty as part of the station’s extended family, struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
Dante Daugherty now faces serious legal charges, including two counts of cruelty to children in the 2nd degree and one count of murder in the 2nd degree. As the investigation unfolds, many questions remain unanswered.
The search for answers and justice continues in this tragic case, which has left a community in mourning and serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of firearm safety and responsible parenting.
