Jury Deliberates Trial of Man Accused Killing Fulton County Deputy

Jury deliberations have begun in the murder trial of Alton Oliver, who is charged with fatally shooting off-duty Fulton County Deputy James Thomas Jr. in December 2022. Oliver testified that he acted in self-defense after Thomas repeatedly propositioned him for sex and appeared to threaten him by speeding toward him in his car. The defense characterized the incident as a "predator versus prey" encounter, portraying Thomas as the aggressor stalking Oliver. Prosecutors argued that Oliver’s story was inconsistent and that Thomas was unarmed and posed no immediate threat, asserting that the shooting was excessive force rather than self-defense. They emphasized that Oliver had other options, such as walking away or calling 911, but chose to fire three shots into the vehicle, endangering others. The case continues as jurors weigh these conflicting accounts to reach a verdict.