In the early morning hours of December 4, 2018, the quiet of Morganton, Georgia, was shattered by gunfire that ended the life of 33-year-old Justin McKinney, a male resident. The violent intrusion took place at his home on Elrod Lane, where he was with his girlfriend, Anna Franklin. The couple heard a loud banging at their front door shortly after midnight.
When McKinney answered, he was met by two teenage boys, Blake Dickey and Hunter Hill, both 15, who were known to him.
The teenagers claimed they had to jump out of someone's car and needed a place to go. Having been friends with the boys' fathers for years, McKinney allowed them inside. Not long after, as McKinney was tending to the wood-burning stove, the sound of a gunshot echoed through the home. This was followed by a second shot. Franklin, who was nearby, was then shot as well, the bullet passing through her arm and lodging in her neck. McKinney was found deceased at the scene, having been shot in the back of the head.
In the days following the shooting, law enforcement made a series of arrests that sent a shockwave through the Fannin County community. Blake Dickey and Hunter Hill were taken into custody and charged with murder. Shortly thereafter, two more teenagers were arrested in connection with the crime. Dalton Levi Manuel, 15, was also charged with murder, while 16-year-old Lakota Ricky Cloer was charged with being a party to the crime of murder. All four teenagers were held in a youth detention center.
The investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed that the motive for the deadly home invasion was robbery. The plan, as described by prosecutors, was to 'pop and rob' McKinney, who was known to sell marijuana. The investigation determined that a 410 shotgun was the weapon used to kill McKinney, while a. 25 caliber handgun was also fired at the scene. Despite initial rumors of a revenge motive, the evidence pointed to a premeditated and violent robbery that tragically cut short the life of Justin McKinney and severely injured Anna Franklin.
