ATLANTA — A Fulton County judge denied bond for the man accused in the shooting death of an 81-year-old woman who was sitting on her porch at the time of the shooting.
Johnny Maurice Avery, 30, is facing a felony murder charge after police say he was one of several people involved in a potentially drug-related turf dispute on Proctor Street in northwest Atlanta.
A stray bullet went into Mildred Martin's porch. The 81-year-old was hit in the back and killed as she played cards with a friend.
"I don't have any hate in my heart, but wrong is wrong," Martin's niece Sabrina Tucker told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri.
Tucker went to the Fulton County Jail for Avery's first appearance but left, saying it was too difficult to see the man charged with killing her aunt.
"Just today being around his family I couldn’t breathe so when I see him I have no idea," she said.
Tucker said Martin had lived in the home for about 30 years and looked after people in the community, but they didn’t look out for her.
"They can’t sit on their porch without gunshots ringing out and they need help,” she added.
A check of Avery's background revealed he has been arrested several times, including a 2006 child molestation charge in Henry County. Police said he was released from prison in March.
"Some people don't deserve freedom,” Tucker said.
Atlanta police told Viteri they are still investigating and are close to making more arrests. Avery was ordered to be back in court Aug. 14.
WSBTV
