Guilty Verdict in Dougherty County Pool Hall Shooting

Jury finds Michael Nix guilty on all counts for 2024 killing of Lorne Odom

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:56pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a spent shell casing on a dark concrete surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the physical evidence of a violent crime.The grim physical evidence of a fatal pool hall shooting casts a somber shadow over a community still seeking answers and closure.Albany Today

A Dougherty County jury has found Michael Nix guilty on all counts, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, in connection with the 2024 shooting death of Lorne Odom outside Breaktime Billiards & Pub in Albany, Georgia.

Why it matters

The guilty verdict brings some closure to Odom's family, though they still feel the loss of their loved one. The case highlights ongoing issues of violence and gun crime in the Albany community that local leaders continue to grapple with.

The details

In October 2024, prosecutors said Nix shot Odom following a confrontation outside the pool hall. The dispute began when Odom, who worked at the bar, escorted Nix out after the manager asked him to leave. After a jury heard the case in April 2026, they deliberated for less than an hour before returning guilty verdicts on all charges against Nix.

  • The shooting incident occurred in October 2024 outside Breaktime Billiards & Pub in Albany, Georgia.
  • The trial took place in April 2026, with the jury reaching a guilty verdict in less than an hour.

The players

Michael Nix

The defendant who was found guilty of murdering Lorne Odom in 2024.

Lorne Odom

The victim who was shot and killed by Nix outside the pool hall in 2024.

Ryan Odom

The brother of the victim, Lorne Odom, who expressed that the guilty verdict brought some relief to the family, though they still feel the loss of their loved one.

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What they’re saying

“'It's one of those things— you're sitting there, you already sat there during the entire trial, so you hear all the evidence and you see it firsthand. I guess you don't prepare for anything other than that. So there's still that emptiness knowing that Lorne still isn't here, but at least that weight is lifted knowing that justice was served.'”

— Ryan Odom, Brother of Victim

What’s next

Sentencing for Michael Nix will be scheduled for a later date. He faces life without the possibility of parole, plus five years to be served consecutively.

The takeaway

This guilty verdict provides some measure of justice for the Odom family, but the lasting pain of losing Lorne remains. The case underscores the ongoing challenges of gun violence and community safety that Albany and other cities continue to grapple with.