Babysitter denied bond in child’s death; 2 now sought
Babysitter arrested in Armani Lyons murder
Atlanta police arrested a 71-year-old babysitter for felony murder while searching for a second suspect in the shooting death of three-year-old Armani Lyons.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - A babysitter is behind bars as Atlanta police continue investigating the shooting death of a 3-year-old boy on Easter morning.
What we know:
Police say Armani Lyons was shot in the head inside an apartment in southwest Atlanta. Investigators have not released details on exactly how the shooting happened but say the case remains active and ongoing.
Authorities say both suspects initially questioned in the case lied to investigators about what happened. One of those suspects, identified as 71-year-old babysitter Barbara Edwards, is now in custody.
Edwards and her son, Jermaine Hardman, are both charged with felony murder, cruelty to children, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Police say Hardman is still on the run.
Investigators also say a third person was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. That individual has not yet been identified, and police are working to locate them.
What they're saying:
Family members say they are still trying to process what happened. One "relative" described the loss and confusion surrounding the case.
"He should have been running around right now, enjoying this weather," said Trinetta Julian, a close family friend whom Armani called "Grandma."
The child’s family says they are now learning troubling information about the babysitter after the fact.
"It was so many things. I’m finding out now it’s too late. Too late," Julian said.
What's next:
Atlanta police say they are continuing to piece together the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
The backstory:
According to jail records, 71-year-old Barbara Edwards was booked into the Fulton County Jail on April 14. She is charged with murder, second-degree cruelty to children and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She was denied bond on Tuesday.
Atlanta police previously identified Edwards, who was a babysitter, and 35-year-old Jermaine Hardeman as suspects in the death of 3-year-old Armani Lyons.
Family members had been pleading for arrests in the days following the child’s death, expressing frustration and grief as they waited for justice.
Edwards was arrested around 8:13 p.m. Monday in the 2900 block of Landrum Drive.
Barbara Edwards (Courtesy of Fulton County Sheriff's Office)
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Dig deeper:
According to police, this is not the first time Edwards has been arrested. She was previously arrested for drinking in public and possession of narcotics in 2009.
Hardeman also has an arrest on his record. He was arrested in 2024 for simple assault/domestic violence.
No other information was given by police about the suspects.