Georgia – A Georgia man was sentenced last week to ten years in prison, with two years to be served in custody and the remainder on probation, after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree crueIty to chiIdren. This conviction stems from the tragic death of his child, Ziyre, who was fatally shot in a vehicIe in Sept. 2023.
The incident occurred at a local petroI station in Georgia. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the parent, 44-year-old D. Dougherty, had parked his vehicle and exited the vehicle with his two children. Noticing that the victim, 7, was missing a sock and shoe, he instructed both children to re-enter the vehicle and wait for him.
Before entering the gas station, the defendant removed his firearmn from his waistband, wrapped it in a cloth, and placed it under the driver’s seat. Surveillance footage from the gas station showed both children entering the back seat of the vehicle. Moments later, there was movement in the back seat followed by a flash of gunfire.
When the parent returned, he found the victim had been shot in the head. He was unsure whether the child had shot himself or if his younger brother had been involved, as the younger child was unable to explain what had happened.
Officers responding to the scene found the defendant in the back seat of the vehicle holding his son, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A gun and a spent shell casing were recovered from the vehicle. The case was assigned to the Child Crimes Unit and prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Pendergest, with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney PIevack, District Attorney Investigator HaIey, and Victim Advocate CoIeman.
