Two police officers are at the center of a murder case after a tragic incident in Atlanta, Georgia back in 2016. The case recently took another turn when Georgia prosecutors tried to bring even more serious charges against the officers, but the process has been anything but smooth.
Here’s what happened: In August 2016, Jamarion Robinson, a 26-year-old man with schizophrenia, was shot and killed by police. The Atlanta Police Department had issued an arrest warrant for Robinson after reports claimed he poured gasoline on his mother and her house. Officers went looking for him and found him at his girlfriend’s apartment. That’s where everything escalated.
A 16-member U.S. Marshals task force, including officers Eric Heinze and Kristopher Hutchens, showed up to make the arrest. They broke into the apartment, and reports say Robinson fired two shots toward them—none of the officers were hit. In response, the officers unleashed over 90 bullets inside the apartment. When it was over, Robinson had been shot 75 times. Medical reports even suggested that some of the shots might have been fired at close range.
Years later, in 2021, prosecutors in Fulton County charged Heinze and Hutchens with crimes including felony murder, aggravated assault, and making false statements. They claimed the officers used excessive force by continuing to fire at Robinson even when he was no longer a threat. Prosecutors also believe the officers lied during the investigation, especially about when they stopped shooting.
The case was moved to federal court in 2022 because the officers were part of a federal task force. Fast forward to May 2023, and prosecutors wanted to add even more charges, including malice murder and conspiracy to make false statements. But Judge Victoria Calvert, who oversees the case in federal court, denied their request.
Not giving up, Georgia prosecutors took their fight to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, asking for permission to temporarily send the case back to state court to add the charges. The appeals court panel included three judges—Robert Luck, Barbara Lagoa, and Elizabeth Branch—all appointed by former President Donald Trump.
The judges didn’t seem convinced. One judge pointed out that even though the case is now in federal court, the state court could still take action without permission. Another suggested that prosecutors could have presented their updated charges earlier, during district court hearings.
Meanwhile, Jamarion Robinson’s mother, Monteria Robinson, has been fighting her own battle. She filed a lawsuit for excessive force, arguing that her son wasn’t a deadly threat when officers stormed the apartment and started shooting. Her lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year on technical grounds.
It’s been a long road for Monteria, who says her son’s mental illness should have been taken into account. Instead, she claims, the officers broke in and opened fire without trying to de-escalate the situation.
This case has become a major point of discussion, especially for those who focus on police accountability and the treatment of people with mental health conditions. For now, the legal fight continues, and all eyes remain on what happens next.
