The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant immunity from prosecution to a former DeKalb County police officer accused of murder.

Ex-officer Torrey Thompson is charged with killing 21-year-old Lorenzo Matthews, who was unarmed when he was shot eight times while fleeing police. Matthews was among 12 suspects shot and killed by DeKalb police in 2006; a special grand jury found the other 11 shootings justified.

In its opinion, the state Supreme Court said it agreed with a trial judge's determination that Thompson did not show he was justified in using deadly force. But the court also ruled that Thompson's statements to internal affairs and to investigators cannot be used against him at trial.

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Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com