In the early hours of a Tuesday morning in January 2020, the life of 22-year-old Daquan Murphy was tragically cut short in what should have been the safety of his own home. The male victim was inside his apartment at the Alta Mill complex near Austell, Georgia, with his 23-year-old girlfriend and their 18-month-old daughter when a violent chain of events unfolded at his doorstep. A group of individuals, intent on robbery, confronted Murphy at his door.
In a final, protective act, he attempted to slam the door shut to shield his sleeping family from the impending danger. It was then that a single gunshot was fired through the door, striking Daquan Murphy in the torso. He was rushed to WellStar Cobb Hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The terror for his family did not end with the fatal shot. The masked assailants forced their way into the apartment, brandishing their weapons at Murphy's now-widowed girlfriend and his toddler daughter as they cried in fear. The intruders demanded property before fleeing the scene, leaving a family shattered and a community in shock. The subsequent investigation by the Cobb County Police Department swiftly began to unravel a 48-hour crime spree that preceded the deadly home invasion. Authorities discovered the perpetrators had been involved in other armed robberies and a carjacking in a quest for money and more firearms.
The investigation led to a series of arrests and a fatal confrontation. The day after the shooting, police apprehended 16-year-old Elijah Bailey. Shortly thereafter, Damion Shropshire, who was on an ankle monitor for a previous armed robbery, and 19-year-old Samuel Mallard were identified as suspects. When officers moved to arrest Mallard, he reportedly pulled a gun on them and was shot and killed by the police. Another suspect, Miguel Romo, was arrested just over a week later; at the time of his arrest, he was in possession of four guns, including the weapon used to kill Murphy and another that had been stolen in a prior robbery.
The wheels of justice turned for the men responsible for Daquan Murphy's death. Damion Shropshire entered a guilty plea in March 2023 and received a life sentence. Elijah Bailey and Miguel Romo faced a jury and were convicted on a host of charges, including murder, home invasion, and armed robbery. During their trial, text messages revealed a chilling lack of remorse; Bailey described the incident as 'sloppy,' while Romo callously remarked that Murphy 'shouldn't have closed the door.' For their roles in the violent crime spree, Bailey was sentenced to life in prison plus 130 years, and Romo was sentenced to life plus 90 years.
