In the late hours of a Friday night in Columbus, Georgia, the life of 20-year-old Steven Daniel was cut short by gunfire on September 30, 2022. The incident unfolded near an elementary school, where the young man was fatally shot.
Subsequent investigation by the Columbus Police Department led to the arrests of two men, Michael McCarter and Dwayne Neely, in January 2023. The investigation determined that the shooting occurred while McCarter was allegedly being robbed by Daniels.
As a result, authorities deemed that McCarter acted in self-defense and was justified in the use of deadly force that resulted in Daniels' death.
Despite the self-defense ruling, Michael McCarter faced legal consequences. He was charged with theft by receiving after it was discovered that the firearm he used was stolen. The other man, Dwayne Neely, was implicated in the alleged robbery of McCarter and was subsequently charged with armed robbery for his involvement. Both men turned themselves into police custody. Following their arrests, McCarter and Neely were scheduled for preliminary hearings in Recorder's Court.
