On a Sunday evening in Columbus, Mississippi, a heated argument shattered the peace and ended a young man's life. Deadrian Dominique Buckhalter, a 28-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on October 24, 2021, following a dispute. The incident unfolded in the 2500 block of 22nd Avenue North, where Buckhalter was found with a gunshot wound in the carport of a residence.
He was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The investigation into Buckhalter's death quickly identified a suspect: 47-year-old Terry 'Shortdogg' Macon. Witnesses at the scene told police that Macon and Buckhalter had been arguing just before the fatal shots were fired. The nature of their dispute was deeply personal; Macon's daughter was pregnant with Buckhalter's child. Authorities also discovered a social media disagreement between Buckhalter and Macon's wife that occurred sometime before the deadly confrontation. A weapon, believed to be the one used in the shooting, was recovered by law enforcement.
In the hours following the shooting, Terry Macon turned himself in to the Columbus Police Department and was taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with murder in connection with Deadrian Buckhalter's death. The case proceeded through the legal system, culminating in a trial where Macon was initially indicted for first-degree murder.
During the trial, the defense argued that Macon acted in imperfect self-defense, claiming he feared for his life after Buckhalter allegedly threatened him with a gun. However, the only firearm recovered from the scene belonged to Macon. After deliberations, the jury found Terry Macon guilty of the lesser charge of imperfect self-defense manslaughter. He was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison for the death of Deadrian Buckhalter, the man who was to be the father of his grandchild.
