The man who gunned down a man in town for his father's funeral was sentenced to life in prison Monday.
Kealy Williams, 26, pleaded guilty in Fulton County court to charges of murder, hijacking a motor vehicle, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the murder of 41-year old Terrence Harris.
Harris, of Shaker Heights, Ohio, had traveled to Atlanta with his mother and two aunts to attend his father's funeral in November 2008. On Nov. 13, Harris and a cousin, Edward “Tony” Carmichael, took his late father's car to Golden Shine Car Wash in Fairburn. Harris had planned for the car to be used in his father's funeral procession, family members later said.
“The two of them had gone to get haircuts and do manly things,” another cousin, Eric Wiley, later told the AJC. “Terrence wanted to get his dad’s car cleaned up for the funeral because it hadn’t been driven in six or seven months while he was sick.”
As Harris talked on his cell phone inside the car, Carmichael washed the car. Carmichael was then approached by Williams, wearing a black skull cap and sunglasses, who asked for the vehicle keys.
Carmichael told the suspect he didn't have the keys, and Williams then opened the car door and shot Harris. Williams then pushed Harris out of the car and drove away.
Harris was able to walk a short distance before collapsing. He died less than two hours later at Atlanta Medical Center.
Williams turned himself in to police the following day, saying he felt guilty after learning the victim was in town for his father’s funeral. Williams was scheduled for trial Monday, but entered a guilty plea during jury selection.
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