A man was found unresponsive outside a restaurant on Buford Highway in Doraville early Sunday and pronounced dead at the scene, after a shooting that police say erupted from a personal feud over an alleged affair. Doraville police identified the suspect as Daniel Roman-Cortez, who they say was arrested after surrendering during a traffic stop in the 5700 block of Buford Highway.
Pablo Gutierrez-Gallegos was found unresponsive outside the restaurant, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, which reported he was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers administered emergency lifesaving measures before DeKalb County paramedics pronounced him dead, the outlet reported. Investigators have not confirmed the specific business where the shooting occurred.
Suspect Allegedly Confessed on Scene
Police say Roman-Cortez surrendered to officers during a traffic stop after they saw him trying to pull away in a blue pickup truck in the 5700 block of Buford Highway. Per investigators, he told them, “I shot him, I killed him.” Officers then went to the restaurant in the 5800 block.
Investigators said the shooting stemmed from a personal feud, and according to police, Roman-Cortez told them Gutierrez-Gallegos was sleeping with his wife. Officials have not released formal charges against Roman-Cortez, and the station's report does not independently verify the alleged affair.
Conflicting Block Numbers, Bystanders Hurt
Accounts of exactly where the shooting happened differ. The shooting scene was identified as the 5800 block of Buford Highway, while 911 dispatchers reportedly received reports of active gunfire around midnight in the 5700 block — a discrepancy the available reporting does not reconcile.
Two restaurant patrons were treated and cleared of serious injury after gunfire caused glass fragments to strike them, per the same account. Doraville police are working with Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents to process evidence from the scene.
A Smaller Slice of a Bigger DeKalb Trend
A Smaller Slice of a Bigger DeKalb Trend The shooting adds to a year in which DeKalb County has otherwise seen declining homicides. Countywide homicides fell to 91 in 2025, down from 129 the year before, according to a prior Hoodline report on a separate fatal shooting in the county. A Citizen Portal snippet also noted that DeKalb's 2025 homicide count dropped below 100 for the first time in years, with police reporting a 76.9% clearance rate, though that figure carries low confidence in available reporting.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Doraville Police Department at 770-455-1000. No further updates on charges or the identity of the business where the shooting occurred have been released.
