On a summer evening in South Fulton, Georgia, the life of 33-year-old Demario Bates was cut short by gunfire. It was August 5, 2023, at a residence on Fruitwood Trace, when officers responded to a call of a person shot. They arrived to find Bates suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries, leaving a family and community to grapple with the sudden and violent loss. His mother, Sonia Bates, later described him as a loving and caring man, a dedicated father to his six-year-old child. His family remembered him as a hardworking individual with a constant smile, who was scheduled to travel out of state for work the day after he was killed.
In the initial aftermath of the shooting, no arrests were made, and Demario's family publicly pleaded for justice. The investigation into his death continued for several months. The family’s wait for answers came to an end on November 21, 2023, when authorities announced the arrest of a suspect. A collaborative effort between the South Fulton Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service task force led to the apprehension of 21-year-old Deangielo Hawthorne. He was taken into custody without incident, bringing a measure of relief to the grieving family.
Further details emerged following the arrest, painting a picture of a domestic dispute that escalated to a fatal confrontation. According to an arrest warrant, Hawthorne’s mother was in a relationship with Bates that was described as abusive. On the day of the shooting, an argument between the couple turned physical. The conflict moved outside the home, where Hawthorne was present. His mother told police she saw her son with a firearm and attempted to intervene, but was unsuccessful. Hawthorne allegedly shot Bates multiple times before leaving the scene. He was later charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and is being held at the Fulton County Jail without bond.
