In the late hours of February 5, 2022, a distress call to 911 shattered the night in Dallas, Georgia, reporting a shooting at a residence on Old Locklear Road. When Paulding County deputies arrived, they found 35-year-old Shana Nicole Dover, a white female, deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. Bystanders at the scene had been attempting life-saving measures, but her injuries were too severe. The initial report to the dispatcher indicated that she had been shot by her brother and that both had been intoxicated.
Investigators at the scene quickly identified a suspect who was still present at the home, 32-year-old Justin Blane Smart. While the 911 caller had identified Smart as Dover's brother, the investigation revealed that they were not related by blood. Instead, they were very close friends who considered each other siblings. It was determined that a dispute between Dover and Smart escalated, leading to the fatal shooting. Smart was arrested at the scene and taken into custody.
Following his arrest, Justin Blane Smart was charged with murder and aggravated assault. He was booked into the Paulding County Jail and held without bond. The case proceeded through the legal system, culminating in a jury trial. On May 2, 2024, a Paulding County jury convicted Smart of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. On May 17, 2024, a judge sentenced Smart to 25 years in prison for his role in the death of Shana Nicole Dover.
