A Clayton County man has been sentenced to life in prison following his conviction for the shooting death of a friend over an unpaid loan. The verdict was announced by DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston after a jury found Shiva Vereen, 52, guilty on charges including Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
The incident occurred on February 13, 2023, when officers from the DeKalb County Police Department responded to reports of a person shot at a sports bar on Evans Mill Road in Stonecrest. Andrew Carpenter, 45, was found dead in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds.
Surveillance footage revealed that Vereen arrived at the bar around 2:30 a.m. and confronted Carpenter inside. The two men later moved outside and sat together in Carpenter’s SUV for about 40 minutes. After leaving the vehicle, Carpenter remained nearby while Vereen went to his own car to retrieve a firearm. Vereen then returned and shot Carpenter eight times before fleeing the scene.
Vereen was arrested three weeks later in Texas after being stopped for driving with a fake dealership tag. During his trial, Vereen claimed self-defense, stating that Carpenter had threatened him and his family with a gun while they were in the SUV. He also said he blacked out during the shooting. However, text messages presented during the trial indicated ongoing tension between Vereen and Carpenter regarding an unpaid $1,600 loan.
Judge Alan C. Harvey presided over the trial for DeKalb County Superior Court and imposed a sentence of life imprisonment plus five years to be served consecutively immediately after the guilty verdict.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Josh Geller with support from Senior Assistant District Attorney Connor Payne, Investigator Tiffany Edwards, and Victim Advocate Amina Abdul-Muhaymin from the Homicide and Gangs Unit. Detective C. Heavner of the DeKalb County Police Department led the initial investigation.
"DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case of a Clayton County man who shot and killed a friend over an unpaid loan."