Lies, a false identity, and two firearms stuffed in an oven weren’t enough to save Hiakeem Dillard from justice. On March 3, 2026, Dillard was sentenced to 25 years, the first 10 to be served in prison, for shooting his domestic partner and a string of additional felonies, including Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Tampering with Evidence, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
The case arose from an April 12, 2024, incident on Date Avenue, where Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies encountered the victim who had sustained a gunshot wound. Dillard, who was present at the scene, immediately attempted to deceive law enforcement by providing the false name “Juwaskee Stanly” and claiming that the victim had been struck by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting.
Investigators quickly determined that Dillard’s account was false. Crime scene evidence, including the absence of blood or shell casings outside the residence, contradicted his story. Interviews with Dillard’s mother and aunt, who were also present in the home, revealed his true identity and implicated him in the shooting. Confronted with this evidence, Dillard admitted to shooting the victim during an argument, stating he believed she had been unfaithful.
In addition to the charges stemming from the shooting, Dillard had failed to register as a sex offender in April 2024, in violation of Georgia law. At the time of these offenses, Dillard was already serving probation for a prior Failure to Register conviction. As a result of the new charges, his probation was revoked in full, with his probationary term extending through 2032.
“The victim in this case was shot by someone she trusted and then watched him try to erase what he
did,” said District Attorney Anita Howard. “This office exists for moments like this. We stand in the
gap for victims so they don’t stand alone.”