DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Teary-eyed, but unbroken, the mother of slain youngster Nicholas Thomas walked to the podium with the steely resolution of a person who believes unequivocally that her son died unnecessarily. But instead of striking out with molten lava hate at the officers and the local judicial system, she offered condolences.
“I give my condolences to officer Kenneth Owens. I give my condolences to Cobb County,” Felicia Thomas said through a quivering voice. “My family is not going to stop. God has the last word, not [Cobb County District Attorney] Vic Reynolds.”
The matriarch of the Thomas family, however, expressed disappointment in those investigating the killing of her son whom she said were equally guilty of failure to disclose all information presented. The grieving, but stoic mother also accused law officials of not pursuing pertinent leads which might have led the grand jury to render a different conclusion than to exonerate Owens in killing her son at the Goodyear Tire store in Smyrna.
That’s why the Thomas family has hired famed private investigator T.J. Ward to discover evidence the Thomas camp believes is still out there that could impact the case. Ward referenced the Ariston Waiters killing by police in Union City in 2011. Initially, the Grand Jury ruled in the officer’s favor. But when Ward uncovered new evidence, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has been forced to take the case to a second Grand Jury.
Meanwhile, the attorney’s for the Thomas family, Mawuli Davis and Robert Bozeman, illuminated the fact that during the initial police news conference after Thomas’ killing, Smyrna superiors claimed Owens said he shot Thomas because he feared for his own life. Following the autopsy that showed Thomas was shot in the back, the official police story changed, the attorneys said. Owens then claimed he believed Thomas was going to use the Maserati he tried to escape in to run over another officer, prompting him to use deadly force to save that officer’s life.
Thomas’ brother said he is going to do everything within his power to get Reynolds out of office.
“I told my brother (while he laid in his casket) that ‘I’m going to get justice for you’ and I’m not going to stop,” said T.J. Thomas.
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