JONESBORO — In a press conference held Friday at the Harold R. Banke Justine Center, Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley announced there would not be a second grand jury in an officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of 19-year-old Eric Holmes.
Former Clayton County Police Officer Justin Stephens faced seven charges related to the shooting but a Clayton County grand jury returned a no-bill in the case this spring.
The Clayton County DA’s Office reviewed the case and Mosley said Friday there was no new relevant evidence that would warrant pursuing a second grand jury.
“In conclusion, this case is officially closed,” Mosley read from a written statement during the press conference. Mosley did not field any questions during the conference and read only from the written statement.
Holmes’ mother, Vakelvion Holmes, other family members, and supporters attended the press conference.
“If my child stole a car, you lock him up,” she said. “He’s never been charged with nothing so if he’s stole a car lock him up — you don’t shoot him — you don’t shoot him. He didn’t do anything to deserve to die…my baby did not deserve to die.”
According to Mosley’s written statement, on the day of the incident at about 11 a.m., Stephens was dispatched on a property check after the Clayton County PD received a call from the Rome Police Department informing them that a beige 2014 Kia Optima, which was stolen from Rome the previous evening, had been electronically tracked to Commerce Road in Morrow.
Stephens responded to the area and saw a vehicle matching the general description of the stolen vehicle. Stephens called Rome PD per dispatch instructions to confirm.
During the call, Stephens was told by Rome PD to be careful because the firearm that was inside the vehicle when it was stolen had not been recovered.
After verifying the…
Read the full article here
