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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.

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.

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.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/clayton-county-eric-holmes- shooting-police-district-attorney-announcement

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