A Georgia father is behind bars after allegedly shooting and killing his adult son during a heated argument that turned deadly. Authorities say 54-year-old Durante Rowe-Tolliver faces a charge of first-degree murder after investigators determined he fired at least twelve rounds, killing his 32-year-old son, Durante Schofield.
Schofield’s sister, Dee Clyburn, said the family is reeling from the tragedy and struggling to understand how such violence could unfold between a father and son. “I wouldn’t have ever imagined, not in a hundred years would I have thought this was the phone call I was getting,” she said.
Schofield, described by relatives as a devoted father of two and a hardworking entrepreneur in metro Atlanta, was remembered as someone who “cared genuinely and deeply about people.” Court documents show Rowe-Tolliver drove to the 55 Pharr Apartments in Buckhead after learning that his son had been involved in a car accident, local WXIA reports.
According to an affidavit, the two men began arguing inside the apartment. Police arrived briefly after being called to the scene, but found the situation calm at the time. However, investigators say the argument reignited moments later in the parking lot. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots.
Police say Rowe-Tolliver fired at least twelve rounds, later telling investigators he believed his son was reaching for a gun. No weapon was found on Schofield’s body. Emergency responders pronounced Schofield dead at the scene. Authorities later took Rowe-Tolliver into custody without incident.
During a court hearing earlier this week, a judge denied bond for Rowe-Tolliver, citing the severity of the charges. He remains held in the Fulton County Jail as prosecutors prepare their case.
Family members say they are devastated by the loss and cannot comprehend how a family dispute escalated to such violence. “He was just a loving person,” Clyburn said of her brother. “He cared about everybody, and now he’s gone because of something that never should have happened.”
Police have not released additional details about what led to the confrontation or whether there had been prior tensions between the two. Investigators are continuing to review evidence and witness statements to determine what sparked the deadly encounter. A family is left to grieve both a son and a father—one dead, the other behind bars—after an argument that ended in unimaginable loss.