Man Guilty of Killing Army Sergeant Who Helped Homeless

ATLANTA, GA -- A Fulton County jury has convicted a 22-year-old man for gunning down a U.S. Army sergeant who gave a homeless man a pair of shoes in Atlanta.

The jury on Friday, April 14 convicted Harold Bernard Dodson on charges of murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Atlanta police responded to the shooting Aug. 30, 2015, and discovered Sgt. Atting Eminue dead near the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless at 477 Peachtree Street. An innocent bystander suffered a gunshot wound to her leg, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office said.

The investigation into the fatal shooting revealed that Eminue was on his way to a nearby nightclub when he gave a homeless man a pair of shoes and some cash. According to the District Attorney's Office, Dodson observed Eminue's act of kindness and "loudly stated that the shoes were a counterfeit brand."

"The defendant continued to vocally disrespect the victim by saying Eminue wasn’t 'bout that life'," the office added.

As Eminue approached the defendant, Dodson brandished a handgun and shot the victim four times in his chest, left arm and scrotum. The victim was discovered by police and a day later, witnesses identified the shooter as Dodson, who was 21-years-old at the time.

The office notes Dodson was able to evade arrest until Oct. 23, 2015, when he was found hiding in a cabinet inside his father's kitchen.

Eminue was a Nigerian immigrant and U.S. Army soldier who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan and was a father, his family told WSB-TV.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua sentenced Dodson to life in prison without parole plus 30 years.

Photo: Harold Dodson. Credit: Fulton County Jail