SHOOTER CONVICTED IN SHOTGUN SLAYING OF NEIGHBOR

Defendant Claimed Victim Was Making Too Much Noise

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by jury trial of Rodney Lane, 44. Jurors returned guilty verdicts this afternoon against Lane on charges of Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and weapons offenses for the shooting death of 55-year-old Donald Dye.

Dye was shot and killed on October 8, 2010 outside a Rawson Street apartment in Atlanta. According to the investigation, Defendant Lane had made earlier complaints that night to police regarding too much noise in the apartment community. Witnesses say the defendant had also come outside and ordered his neighbors to be quiet because he and his family, including a baby, needed to sleep. When the noise did not subside, Lane appeared on the balcony of his unit with a shotgun and opened fire. Donald Dye suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. Defendant Lane, a well-known drug dealer, was arrested on scene for drug possession with intent to distribute. He was later charged with Mr. Dye’s murder.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall, who presided over the case, sentenced Lane to life plus 45-years.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Linda Dunikoski with assistance from ADA George Jenkins and DA Investigator Terri Jackson. Detective E. Mills with the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov