In the early morning hours of October 1, 2015, a verbal argument between two security guards in the lobby of a Buckhead office building on Peachtree Road escalated into a fatal shooting. Emmanuel C. Nwankwo, a 23-year-old male, was shot multiple times and died at the scene. His colleague, 26-year-old Dexter Harper, was quickly identified as the suspect and taken into custody for questioning.
Atlanta police recovered a handgun at the scene and subsequently charged Harper with murder.
He was then transported to the Fulton County Jail. While the initial investigation suggested a workplace dispute that turned violent, the motive took a bizarre turn during a preliminary hearing. A police detective testified that Harper claimed he saw a demon in Nwankwo and that God had told him to commit the act.
During the hearing, Emmanuel Nwankwo Sr., the victim's father, made an emotional plea to the judge to deny Harper bond, stating, 'A part of me was killed and yet to be buried in the ground.' The judge denied bond and scheduled a future court date. Harper's attorney indicated that his client would undergo a psychological evaluation. The shooting shocked those who worked in the building, located at 3348 Peachtree, formerly known as Tower Place 200.
