Local

3rd man in gang spree gets 7 life sentences

ATLANTA — The third man in a month-long gang crime spree that gripped Atlanta two years ago will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Channel 2's Erica Byfield was in a downtown Atlanta courtroom Monday when Robert Veal was sentenced to life without parole, plus six life sentences and 40 years in prison. Last month, a jury convicted Veal, Tamario Wise and Fernandez Whatley on a list of charges.

Police tie the trio to the Jack Boys gang. Veal and Wise were behind a string of robberies, a sexual assault and the murder of Charles Boyer. The group was thrown into the spotlight when they killed Boyer as he defended his girlfriend during a robbery in Virginia-Highland.

Boyer's girlfriend previously testified she ran into a neighbor's house and helplessly listened as he was gunned down.

"We heard gunshots starting, and she dragged me in the hallway away from the windows. I think I heard about three gunshots," Lisa McGraw said before breaking down into tears. 

The same night Boyer was killed, Wise and Veal robbed another man, forced him into an apartment and raped a woman in another room, according to witness testimony.

Veal's attorney told the judge Monday his client was sorry for the rapes he committed. Moments later, Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Lance Cross got up to speak, and as he discussed Boyer's murder, Veal demanded to leave.

"For the record, Mr. Veal has asked to be taken out of the room quite loudly," Cross said in court.

Veal was out of the room for about 10 minutes, but the judge brought him back, saying he needed to hear his sentence.

Last week, Wise was sentenced to life without parole, plus 14 life sentences and 290 years in prison. Whatley received a 30-year sentence.