Columbus man convicted of murder after killing victim over dog

A Columbus man was convicted of multiple charges this week including malice murder for killing a person who complained about his dog. Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Don Kelly announced the conviction of Emilio Manrique-Camoran of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and possession of methamphetamine.

Manrique- Camoran was charged in connection to an incident that arose September
8, 2024 on Holley Avenue. The defendant and the victim, Oscar Moreno had a verbal
dispute over the defendant’s dog. Moreno left the defendant’s residence, but the
defendant went inside his residence, retrieved a firearm, followed Moreno, and gunned
him down in the street. Moreno died from a single gunshot wound to the neck at the scene.

The trial was presided over by the Honorable Superior Court Judge Bemon “Gil” McBride.
On August 26, 2026, a Muscogee County jury, after deliberating less than two hours,
convicted Manrique-Camaron of all counts. Judge McBride has scheduled sentencing for
October 9th, where the defendant faces life with the possibility of parole or life without the possibility of parole.

District Attorney Don Kelly said, “I want to thank the investigators at the Columbus Police
Department, specifically lead officer Sgt. Sherman Hayes, for their hard work in bringing
this case to a successful resolution. I also want to recognize the work of Assistant D.A.’s
Meghan Bowden and Colleen Gottfried for their work in presenting the case to the jury.
The jury’s verdict made clear that our community is not going to tolerate gun violence.”