Following the denial of his motion for new trial, Harold Lee Render appeals his convictions for felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in connection with the fatal shooting of Lamarcus Walker and the wounding of Edward Scott. Render’s challenge is that his trial counsel provided him with ineffective assistance. For the reasons which follow, we affirm.1 The evidence construed in favor of the verdicts showed the following. Render had a history of employment in law enforcement, including working as a police officer and as an armed security guard. Render’s twenty-six-year-old son was shot and killed in 2006. Within a few months after the shooting, the Render family began to suspect Lamarcus Walker as the perpetrator. Thereafter, Walker and his girlfriend, who was a Fulton County Deputy Sheriff went to the Render home both to secure an address in order to obtain a protective order and to try to convince Render that Walker was not the man who killed his son. Neither Walker nor his girlfriend were armed. After Walker entered the home and attempted to talk to Render, Render pulled out a handgun and ordered Walker to be seated. Walker kept his hands raised in the air. Walker told Render that he did not injure or murder his son, and Render responded that he did not want to talk to anyone about it, that “all he wanted to do was find and kill whoever murdered his son.” Render told the couple that the police were looking for Walker. Render telephoned a detective involved in the investigation of his son’s murder and was told that there was no new information in the case and that Walker was not needed. Render then fired a shot into the air. Render let the couple leave after Walker’s girlfriend agreed to take Walker to the jail for any possible questioning or other action.
On April 30, 2007, Render encountered Walker at a convenience store in DeKalb County. Render and Walker exchanged words and Render drew a handgun and shot Walker multiple times. Walker tried to run from Render. Render fired more shots at Walker and a stray bullet hit Edward Scott in the groin. Walker fell while he was running, and Render stood over him and again fired multiple shots into him. Walker died instantly. He had sustained gunshot wounds to his left upper arm, the right side of his face, and the back of his head. No weapons were found on Walker’s body.
