Joseph 'Joey' Dorminey, a 50-year-old male, was a regional manager for Little Caesars Pizza in Leesburg, Georgia, known for his vibrant personality and community involvement. Friends described him as a 'hurricane of sunshine' who was well-connected and gave generously to his community, including organizing a fundraiser for the local animal shelter shortly before his death.
On the evening of Friday, May 3, 2024, the lively atmosphere of the Little Caesars on U.S. 19 North was shattered by violence. As Dorminey was closing the restaurant and putting money in the safe, he was shot multiple times. Law enforcement responded to the scene around 9:20 p.m. to find Dorminey with critical injuries. He was rushed to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, but tragically, he succumbed to his wounds.
The investigation quickly pointed to an employee, 28-year-old Daquan Divonte Harris of Lithonia. Evidence, including video footage, reportedly showed Harris shooting Dorminey from behind. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff's Office collaborated on the case, leading to Harris's arrest the following morning, on Saturday, May 4, 2024. He was taken into custody and booked into the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
Harris faced a string of serious charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. In a turn of events just as his trial was set to begin, Harris entered a guilty plea to malice murder and armed robbery in Lee County Superior Court. As a result of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional 20-year sentence for armed robbery to be served concurrently. The resolution brought a measure of justice for a community shocked by the sudden and violent loss of a beloved member.
