Clayton County DA announces no charges for former officer who shot 19-year-old, case closed
Mother of teen shot by police begs for grand jury probe
The mother of Eric Holmes says she will not give up fighting for answers in her son's death. The family along with the new order national human rights organization gathered outside the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office Friday asking to go back in front of a grand jury.
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - The Clayton County District Attorney announced during a press conference on Friday morning that no charges are being brought against the former police officer who shot Eric Holmes.
Holmes was reportedly driving a stolen car and had a stolen gun in his possession at the time of the incident, DA Tasha Mosley said. The district attorney showed video of the incident and shooting during the press conference and said that the officer reportedly saw Holmes reaching for the stolen gun prior to opening fire.
The DA says the case has been carefully reviewed and there is no new evidence or conflicting information that warrants a new investigation. The DA says that the case is now closed, and any other information will need to be obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
The police officer originally faced 7 charges in connection to the shooting, but a grand jury declined to indict him. He later quit the police force.
Holmes' family was visibly upset about the announcement and began denouncing the district attorney inside the courtroom as she walked away.
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ORIGINAL STORY
The district attorney of Clayton County is expected to hold a press conference Friday to discuss the deadly shooting of a 19-year-old by a Clayton County police officer last year.
On the morning of Nov. 21, 2022, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Officer Justin Stephens was called to the 1100 block of Commerce Road to investigate a stolen vehicle parked on the street.
While at the scene, Stephens was approached by 19-year-old Eric Holmes who talked to him "but gave no indication of his connection to the stolen vehicle," the GBI says.
‘DO THE RIGHT THING’: MOTHER OF 19-YEAR-OLD KILLED BY CLAYTON COUNTY OFFICER CALLING FOR JUSTICE
At some point, officials say Holmes got into the car and began to drive off. Stephens fired multiple shots, hitting Holmes at least once, and began to chase the teen.
The officer found the car with Holmes wounded in a ditch less than a mile down the road. The 19-year-old died from his injuries at Southern Regional Hospital.
Eric Holmes (Courtesy of the Cochran Law Firm)
Instead of being terminated, Stephens was allowed to resign less than a month after the shooting.
Since the teen's death, his mother Vakelvion Holmes and activists have been calling on District Attorney Tasha Mosley to charge Stephens.
"After we met with the GBI, and we met with the Clayton County Police Department. We were able to determine then, by them releasing video footage, that there was no altercation, no reason for Eric to be shot," she told FOX 5 at a rally in March. "He was no threat to the officer."
In a press release, Mosley says she will discuss the use of force case Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Clayton County Courthouse. Holmes and activists say they will also be at the courthouse.