Police say the victim’s teenage daughter worked at the restaurant and called for help before the parking-lot confrontation.
PALMETTO, GA — A 25-year-old shift manager at a Bojangles restaurant is charged with murder after a Sunday afternoon shooting that killed a father who arrived to help his teenage daughter outside the store on Roosevelt Highway, authorities said.
Palmetto police identified the victim as Dominique Goodman. Investigators said the encounter unfolded in the parking lot after Goodman came to the restaurant because his daughter, an employee, reported a dispute with a supervisor. The suspect, identified by police as Maurice Nolan Evans of Forest Park, was arrested and booked into the Fulton County Jail on charges including murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. An arrest warrant states Evans admitted at the scene to shooting Goodman, according to police. The case is in its early stages as detectives review witness statements, surveillance video and physical evidence.
Police Chief Bryan Hergesell said officers were called to the Bojangles at 9135 Roosevelt Highway at about 1:15 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived, they found Goodman dead in the parking lot. Family members said Goodman’s daughter had gotten into an argument with her shift manager and called home for help. “These people need to put these guns down,” said family friend Marlene Lately, who described the shooting as “senseless,” adding that Goodman was there to check on his child. Police said the employee involved in the argument had finished working around noon and was in the lot when Goodman arrived. What happened between the two men in the minutes before the gunfire is still being pieced together from interviews and video.
Authorities identified Evans as a Bojangles employee and said he was taken into custody Sunday. He is accused of firing multiple shots during the confrontation that followed. Police said Goodman, a well-known salesman at Honda South in Morrow, had worked at the dealership for about three years and was considered a top performer. Bojangles issued a statement calling the incident “a tragic” and “senseless act,” saying the franchised location is cooperating with law enforcement and emphasizing the safety of guests and team members as a priority. Officials have not released how many rounds were fired, who called 911, or whether any weapon was recovered from the victim. Detectives said they are still confirming how long Evans remained at the scene and whether any other employees or customers witnessed the shooting directly.
Records show the shooting occurred on a busy corridor near the city’s border with Fulton County, an area lined with fast-food restaurants, gas stations and industrial sites. Palmetto, a small city roughly 25 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta, has seen sporadic parking-lot shootings tied to arguments in recent years, according to police briefings, though incidents at workplaces remain relatively rare. In Sunday’s case, investigators said the initial workplace disagreement escalated after the workday ended, moving from inside the restaurant to the adjacent lot. Friends who gathered near the taped-off area described Goodman as a devoted father who arrived quickly after his daughter called. No other injuries were reported. The restaurant closed during the investigation while officers processed shell casings, photographed vehicles and collected video from nearby businesses.
Evans faces counts of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was booked into the Fulton County Jail on Sunday and, according to jail officials, waived his first appearance on Monday morning. Prosecutors will decide whether to present charges to a grand jury as detectives complete interviews with employees and customers and await ballistics results. Police said they are reviewing surveillance footage from the restaurant and neighboring properties and are seeking any additional witnesses who left before officers arrived. As of Monday afternoon, no additional arrests had been announced. Funeral arrangements for Goodman had not been released. If prosecutors pursue an indictment, a preliminary hearing date could be set as early as next week, depending on the court calendar.
As news of the killing spread, relatives and friends gathered near the restaurant and at Goodman’s workplace to share memories. Lately said Goodman routinely checked on his daughter after late or stressful shifts, calling him “a protector” who would “talk things through” before escalating. A manager at Honda South said Goodman built a reputation for patience with customers and mentoring newer sales staff. Yellow tape still cordoned off several parking spaces Monday morning while employees cleaned the lot and police returned to canvass for any missed evidence. Drivers slowed as they passed the storefront, where a small cluster of flowers and a handwritten note leaned against a curb.
By late Monday, Palmetto police said the investigation remained active, with detectives preparing case files for prosecutors and awaiting lab work. Evans remained in the Fulton County Jail. The Bojangles location was expected to reopen after police finished processing the scene. Officials said they would announce the next public update once surveillance review and additional interviews are complete.
Author note: Last updated December 8, 2025.