In a quiet Jonesboro neighborhood, the afternoon of Thursday, March 2, 2017, was shattered by the sound of gunfire. When police responded to a call on Susan Lane, they discovered the body of 49-year-old Phillip Goodman, a male resident, lying unresponsive. It was a grim scene that would soon unravel a story of a dispute that turned deadly.
Neighbors reported hearing the shots and then witnessing a man dragging what appeared to be a body to the back of a house. The investigation quickly pointed to 44-year-old Cornelius Burnley as the suspect. According to authorities, a dispute had erupted between Burnley and Goodman, which tragically escalated to the point of fatal violence.
Burnley was promptly arrested and faced charges of murder and aggravated assault in connection with Goodman's shooting death. He was subsequently held at the Clayton County Jail. A judge later denied him bond, ensuring he would remain in custody as the legal proceedings against him moved forward.
