PALMETTO, Ga. — What should’ve been a routine visit to check on his daughter turned into a heartbreaking tragedy. On Sunday around 1:15 p.m., police responding to a call of gunfire at the Bojangles at 9135 Roosevelt Highway discovered a man lying dead in the parking lot.
The victim was quickly identified by family as 41-year-old Dominique Goodman, a devoted father who had come because his teenage daughter — an employee at that Bojangles — called him for help, according to those close to him.
Authorities arrested 34-year-old Maurice Nolan Evans of Forest Park, who they say is the shift manager on duty at the restaurant. He faces charges including murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
According to the police and family accounts, the deadly encounter began when the daughter reportedly had a confrontation with the manager during her shift. After the shift ended, the manager drove to the restaurant and waited in the parking lot. When Goodman arrived to speak with him, witnesses say the manager exited his vehicle and fired multiple shots.
“It was senseless,” said a family friend, struggling to find words. The family described Goodman as a caring father who wanted nothing more than to protect his child. “He probably had everything ready for Christmas,” she said, her voice breaking at the thought that the holidays will now irreversibly mark a different kind of loss.
In a brief statement, the restaurant chain — as franchised at this Palmetto location — expressed deep sorrow. They said they are cooperating fully with authorities, emphasized they condemn all violence, and added that the safety of their patrons and staff is always their top concern.
As of now, the investigation remains ongoing. The suspect is held in custody at the Fulton County Jail, and police say more details will emerge as they continue to interview witnesses and review evidence. For the family of Dominique Goodman, the grief is already overwhelming — and this holiday season, nothing will be the same.
