Mom defends teen accused of killing Atlanta civic leader
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. --The mother of ateenager accused of killing a retired Atlanta Housing Authority executive says her son is innocent, reports CBS affiliate WGCL.
Eric Banks, 17, was arrested Thursday and charged with murder. Atlanta police said they believe Banks fatally shot Barney Simms, 70, on Saturday, while the two were in Simms' front yard.
Authorities obtained video from a Waffle House that shows Simms and Banks walking in together.
The suspect's mother, who asked to not be identified by name, told WGCL that Banks explained to her how he and Simms crossed paths.
"The man saw (Banks). He said, 'Are you hungry?' Then he took him to the Waffle House to get something to eat," said the teen's mother.
She said her son told accepted a meal from Simms at the Waffle House, but the two then parted ways.
Atlanta homicide investigators said they believe Simms was shot about an hour after that encounter. When a neighbor found Simms dead in his front yard later that day, his car had been stolen.
Banks is scheduled to appear in front of a judge for a first appearance Friday.