In the late summer of 2021, the life of 48-year-old Donta V. Willis Sr., an African American man from South Fulton, Georgia, was tragically cut short by an act of gun violence. On September 29, 2021, Willis was fatally shot near the intersection of Butner Road and Springbox Drive. The incident prompted an immediate investigation by South Fulton police, leaving a community in search of answers and a family grappling with a sudden and devastating loss. A funeral service to honor his life was later held at the Crown of Life Baptist Church, where friends and family gathered to pay their respects.
The investigation into Willis's death quickly led to a person of interest. The day after the shooting, on September 30, 2021, authorities arrested 39-year-old Daniel Lee Chatman Jr. of Macon. Chatman was subsequently booked into the Fulton County Jail and faced a litany of serious charges. These included murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition to these charges directly related to the violence, he also faced multiple drug counts. Following his arrest, Chatman was held without bond.
The legal process moved forward, culminating in a trial that brought the case against Daniel Lee Chatman Jr. to a conclusion. In June of 2023, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office announced that Chatman had been found guilty on all fifteen counts against him. The convictions included Felony Murder, Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Hijacking a Motor Vehicle. His sentencing was scheduled for the following month, marking a significant step towards justice for the death of Donta V. Willis Sr. and holding his killer accountable.
