In a tragic turn of events on March 10, 2018, Daniel Wise, a 31-year-old African American man, was shot and killed in Lithonia, Georgia. The fatal encounter occurred during a custody exchange of his children with his ex-girlfriend, Regina Welch. Wise had arrived at Welch's home on Chupp Road with a co-worker, Robbie Johnson, to pick up two of his three children. His 4-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were present at the scene.
An argument reportedly broke out between Wise and Welch after the children were secured in the backseat of his car. As the disagreement unfolded, Welch's new boyfriend, Charvez Ryals, who had been watching from a nearby location, ambushed Wise. Ryals first struck Wise in the head with a handgun before opening fire, shooting him eight times. In the midst of the chaos, Ryals also fired at Johnson, who was in the passenger seat. Johnson was wounded but managed to shield the children from the gunfire. Despite being gravely injured, Wise was able to get back into his vehicle and drive a short distance before losing consciousness and crashing.
Following the shooting, Charvez Ryals fled the scene but turned himself in to authorities three days later. He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children. In November 2019, a DeKalb County jury found the 41-year-old Ryals guilty on all counts. For the murder of Daniel Wise and the assault on Robbie Johnson, Charvez Ryals was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 65 years.
