DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that a Lithonia man, Taco Nash Jr., has been convicted of multiple charges, including Malice Murder, for the shooting death of Mi’ckeya Montgomery. The incident occurred in a wooded area behind a daycare center in unincorporated Decatur.
On July 2, jurors found Nash guilty on several counts: four counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault – Family Violence, two counts of Kidnapping, Aggravated Stalking, Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, and various firearm possession charges. The charges stem from the events of June 15, 2022.
The investigation revealed that officers from the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a kidnapping call at a daycare on Snapfinger Park Drive. Montgomery was there to pick up her child when Nash appeared unexpectedly. Despite being ordered by the court not to contact each other due to their tumultuous relationship, Nash confronted Montgomery outside the daycare after unsuccessfully trying to reach her earlier.
Nash attempted to persuade Montgomery to leave with him but was thwarted by daycare staff who pulled her and the child back inside and called 911. Nash forced his way into the building and chased them while brandishing a gun. He threatened Montgomery before forcing her and their child out through a back door into nearby woods.
Daycare staff reported hearing screams from the woods and contacted authorities again. A family member tracking Montgomery's phone arrived as police were informed about its location in the wooded area. As officers approached, they heard a gunshot.
Nash later emerged from the woods with his child claiming that Montgomery had shot herself. However, police discovered Montgomery deceased with a gunshot wound determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office as homicide based on its trajectory.
A family member reported receiving an apology call from Nash admitting to killing Montgomery before he left the woods.
Following these findings and testimonies during trial proceedings overseen by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Brian Lake, Nash received a sentence of Life Without Parole plus two additional life sentences and 60 years imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Garrett Emmons alongside Ashley Johnson with support from Investigator Jerad Wheeler and Victim Advocate Ashley King. Detective C. Fowler led initial investigations for DeKalb County Police Department.