Atlanta Man with Long Criminal History Sentenced to 10 Years for Armed Attacks

ATLANTA – Quartez Rashad Goodman, a 34-year-old Atlanta man with a lengthy criminal history, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm, following a violent spree that included robbing two women at gunpoint, shooting a dog, and engaging in an armed standoff in a city park. He will also serve three years of supervised release after his sentence.

According to U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, Goodman was on state probation for a previous felony when he fired a gun in D.H. Stanton Park on May 21, 2024, assaulted two women bicycling nearby, stole a bicycle, threatened officers, and ultimately engaged police in a standoff before being taken into custody. The dog Goodman attacked was fatally shot during the incident.

Goodman’s criminal record spans multiple violent offenses, including assaults on women and law enforcement officers, weapon possession, and drug trafficking. Despite more than 15 prior felony convictions, most of his state sentences were probated, suspended, or limited to brief jail time.

“While on state probation for another felon-in-possession offense, Goodman repeatedly fired a gun in a city park and used that weapon to rob two women, frighten parkgoers, and threaten police officers,” said U.S. Attorney Hertzberg. “Federal prosecution was necessary to remove this repeat offender from the community and protect the public.”

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty. The case was investigated jointly by the FBI and the Atlanta Police Department, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision.

This federal conviction ensures Goodman will serve his full sentence without the possibility of parole, a significant departure from his prior state sentences. Authorities say the sentence sends a clear message that violent, repeat offenders who endanger the community will face strict consequences.