DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a jury trial conviction of Danny John Marillo Hunter, a Decatur man charged with the fatal shooting of Kateasha Cardell. On January 9, 2025, jurors found Hunter guilty of involuntary manslaughter, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. These charges relate to the death of Cardell and the assault on her fiancé Karlo Dupree on September 22, 2021.
Chief Judge Shondeana Morris sentenced Hunter to life in prison. The incident occurred when DeKalb County Police responded to a report around 4 p.m. on Dove Valley Road in Decatur. Officers found Cardell with a gunshot wound to her neck; she later died at Atlanta Medical Center.
Hunter was arrested at the scene and claimed that the victims had threatened them. Detective interviews revealed an ongoing dispute between Dupree and Cardell with their landlord—Hunter's father—over utility shutoffs and questionable bank charges.
On the day of the incident, Dupree and Cardell went to discuss these issues with their landlord. During this conversation outside his father's house, Hunter retrieved a revolver from inside and shot Cardell. He also fired at Dupree as he attempted to flee in his car; Dupree then drove to DeKalb County Jail for assistance.
Hunter argued he acted to protect his father but investigators found no evidence that Dupree or Cardell were armed during the shooting.
The case was managed by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kara Roberts with help from Parker Aziz, Investigator J.B. Williams, and Victim Advocate Millicent Taylor. Detective Knight led the initial investigation for DeKalb County Police Department.