A heartbreaking family tragedy has left the Buckhead community in shock after a domestic dispute turned fatal late Sunday night, resulting in the passing of 32-year-old Durante Schofield and the arrest of his father, 54-year-old Durante Tolliver.
According to the Atlanta Police Department (APD), officers responded to a domestic disturbance around 8:45 p.m. at an apartment complex located on Pharr Road in Buckhead. The incident reportedly began as an argument between Schofield and his girlfriend. When police arrived, they spoke with the woman outside the apartment in an effort to de-escalate the situation.
Authorities say the woman contacted Schofield’s father, Durante Tolliver, asking him to come to the scene. Shortly after Tolliver arrived, an argument broke out in the parking lot between him and his son. Investigators report that Tolliver allegedly drew a firearm and opened fire on Schofield multiple times.
Despite immediate efforts by officers to render aid, Durante Schofield tragically passed away at the scene. Police detained Tolliver without incident. He now faces charges including murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. While the exact motive remains under review, authorities have confirmed that both the father and son were residents of the Atlanta area. The woman involved in the domestic dispute was not physically harmed and is cooperating with investigators.
Residents of the Pharr Road apartment complex described the scene as chaotic and deeply emotional. “We heard shouting and then several loud pops,” one neighbor recalled. “It was terrifying — and when we learned it was a father and son, everyone was just heartbroken.”
Community members have expressed their condolences to the family, calling the event “a senseless loss” and “a tragedy that no parent or child should ever experience.”
The Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit is urging anyone with information or video footage from the area to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta.
As the investigation continues, the Buckhead community mourns the life of Durante Schofield, remembering him as a young man whose life ended far too soon — and reflecting on a tragedy that has forever changed one family and a community.