Man Pleads Guilty, Gets Life In Prison For 2017 'Execution Style' Killing In Cobb County

COBB COUNTY, GA — Corey Nelson pleaded guilty to shooting and killing Khristopher Dixon in his Austell home four years ago, with no motive, authorities said. For that, he was sentenced to life in prison.

On the morning of Oct. 14, 2017, Nelson went to Dixon's home armed with a gun, according to a Monday news release from the Cobb County District Attorney's Office. Dixon was an acquaintance of Nelson's.

Dixon let Nelson into his home and started walking upstairs to his bedroom when Nelson shot him "execution style in the back of the head" with a .380-caliber handgun, investigators said. He was 22 years old when he died.

Dixon's roommates, who were home at the time of the shooting, said they didn't hear any altercation or arguments before the gunfire.

Nelson then came downstairs, went back upstairs, fired two more rounds into Dixon's head and then fled the scene. Neighbors told police they heard tires squealing as Nelson sped out of the neighborhood before law enforcement arrived, the release said.

Cobb County Police Department detectives determined Nelson as the shooter based on Instagram messages, where Nelson messaged Dixon "I'm here" minutes before the shooting. While police were executing a search warrant on Nelson's Atlanta home, officers found the gun used to kill Dixon, authorities said.

Officers also seized Nelson's cell phone and found a photo of Dixon that Nelson had taken "immediately after executing him," according to the release. Nelson had also written a note to himself that stated he was "starting a new life now."

Detectives were never able to determine a motive for the killing, the DA's office said. During the plea hearing Oct. 27, Dixon's family cried as they described the pain of losing Dixon at such a young age.

“This was, by all definitions, a senseless killing. Khris Dixon was a good kid with a promising future ahead. He was extremely motivated and artistic, working hard to make his family proud,” Senior Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Green said.

Nelson pleaded guilty to murder, Cobb County Chief Superior Court Judge Robert Leonard accepted his plea. He was sentenced to life in prison.