The GBI has allowed the family of a 19-year-old who was shot and killed by a former Clayton County police officer in November to view video of the incident, leading their lawyers to call for criminal charges.
“We’re asking the community to hold their leaders accountable,” Shean Williams, an attorney for the family of Eric Holmes, said at a news conference Wednesday. Williams said the video shared by the GBI, which is conducting an independent investigation, should give the Clayton district attorney enough evidence to bring charges against the former officer.
“If you’re properly trained, properly equipped, you’re not shooting someone who’s driving away in the back,” Williams said.
Credit: The Cochran Firm
Credit: The Cochran Firm
The officer has not been publicly identified, but Williams said he resigned from the Clayton police force after the shooting. A GBI spokeswoman said she could not answer questions about the officer’s employment status.
Clayton police Chief Kevin Roberts told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he could not comment on the ongoing investigation, but said he had met with Holmes’ family and expressed his condolences.
The incident took place Nov. 21 outside Holmes’ workplace in Morrow, the AJC previously reported. The officer was investigating a stolen car and found it in the parking lot of the building materials warehouse where Holmes was at work.
Holmes approached the officer and the two began talking, the GBI said. Williams, who also watched footage of the incident, described their conversation as a “pleasant interaction.”
Holmes, who had not revealed any connection to the stolen vehicle, “abruptly broke off the conversation,” got in the car and tried to drive off, according to the GBI. The officer gave Holmes several commands to stop and, when the 19-year-old did not comply, fired multiple shots into the car, the GBI said.
Holmes was hit but continued driving a short distance and the officer followed in his patrol car, the GBI said. After about a quarter of a mile, Holmes drove his car into a ditch. The officer pulled him from the car and began to render first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived.
Holmes was taken to Southern Regional Medical Center, where he died.
Police recovered two guns from the car, according to the GBI. However, they were registered to the car’s owner and were not handled by Holmes during the shooting incident, Williams said.
Williams said it is not clear how Holmes came to be driving the stolen car or if he knew it was stolen.
“He’s not here to give his side of the story,” Williams told the AJC.
The GBI spokeswoman said independent inquiries typically take two to three months from the time they’re opened. The state agency investigated a record 112 shootings involving law enforcement last year.
When the investigation is complete, the agency will provide its findings to the Clayton DA.
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