Suspect in brutal home invasion claims he was trying to help

The attorney for a third suspect arrested last week in connection with a brutal Chattahoochee Hills home invasion said his client became involved trying to do a good deed.

The lawyer for Eric A. Johnson, 18, said Johnson gave Antoine Wimes, 17, and Donavin McCoy, 21, a ride to the area where they would later attack Nikki Neely and her 1-year-old son.

Attorney Mawuli Mel Davis said Wednesday evening that Johnson was trying to help police when he called them after hearing about the attack.

“He called 911 with his mother present, trusting the legal system,” said Davis, challenging an indictment returned by the Fulton County grand jury. Davis said there was nothing in the discovery indicating Johnson knew the crime was going to happen.

Davis pointed to an incident report from Chattahoochee Hills Police in which McCoy said, “some guy in a black Pontiac dropped him and Antoine off.”

In the report, McCoy tells the interviewing officer he didn’t know the name of the guy who dropped him off.

Johnson’s mother, Lolita Horton, said she insisted her son tell the truth when they learned what happened.

“He said, ‘Mom, I gave them a ride,’ “ Horton said. “I said, ‘Call 911 and let them know what you know.’ He wanted to make sure he told the truth.”

Davis said Johnson, who lives in Union City, knew Wimes from when the two lived near each other in Fairburn. The day of the incident, Wimes asked Johnson for a ride. Johnson said he would give him a ride only if Wimes put gas in his sister’s car -- the black Pontiac.

They traveled to Chattahoochee Hills from Union City and stopped at a gas station on South Fulton Parkway. After dropping the two off, Johnson quickly made the 25-minute ride back home, Davis said.

“He was concerned about having his sister’s car out too long,” Davis said.

Davis said he’s hoping phone records will show Johnson made the 911 call.

Davis said a Fulton County police officer initially took Johnson’s statement but that Horton was leery about taking her son to the Chattahoochee Hills police department to give a second statement three days later without an attorney present.

Horton said she wasn’t able to afford an attorney. Davis said he is providing services pro bono.

On Aug. 17, the 22-year-old Neely was shot in the face and her son, Javante, was severely beaten inside their Chattahoochee Hills home.

The grand jury indicted Wimes, McCoy and Johnson on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and battery, first-degree cruelty to children and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and burglary.

Chattahoochee Hills Det. Jamie Melton has said that Johnson was the driver and “was at the scene.”