A Stone Mountain man has been convicted of murder in the case involving the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend and their baby. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that a jury found Diamonte Haithcoats, 24, guilty on multiple charges related to the February 2, 2023 incident.
The charges against Haithcoats include Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault – Family Violence, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. The victims were Shaniyah Rodriguez, aged 20 at the time of her death, and her baby daughter Milliani Rodriguez.
According to reports from investigators, gunshots were heard by a resident at a condominium complex on Old Singleton Lane in unincorporated Clarkston. The resident discovered Rodriguez lying unresponsive with a gunshot wound to her head and contacted emergency services around 5:45 a.m. DeKalb County Police Department officers responded promptly to the scene.
Rodriguez was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where an emergency caesarian was performed to deliver her baby. Tragically, Shaniyah Rodriguez succumbed to her injuries two days later. Her daughter Milliani passed away on June 19, 2023.
Seven rifle shell casings were retrieved from the crime scene by investigators. Witnesses reported seeing a dark-colored SUV leaving shortly after shots were fired. Police examined footage from Flock Safety cameras which captured what appeared to be a dark blue Hyundai Palisade exiting the complex at approximately 5:46 a.m.
Authorities later located this vehicle and determined it had been stolen. Data from Rodriguez’s phone indicated it had connected via Bluetooth to a device labeled “Palisade” shortly before the shooting was reported. Detectives confirmed this connection when they turned on Rodriguez's phone near the recovered vehicle; it automatically linked with its Bluetooth system.
Further investigation revealed Haithcoats' phone data showing he left the complex immediately following Rodriguez’s murder. During police questioning, Haithcoats attempted to minimize his relationship with Rodriguez and did not acknowledge living with her or being their child’s father.
Before her death, Rodriguez reportedly confided in friends about fears for her safety due to tensions in her relationship with Haithcoats.
Following his conviction by jurors on May 9, 2025, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Parker-Smith sentenced Haithcoats to two life sentences without parole plus an additional five years.
The case was handled by Senior Assistant District Attorney Paige Boorman alongside Senior Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Tarver and others within DeKalb County's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit. Detective D.D. Evans led initial investigations into this tragic incident.