A Fulton County man accused of killing a deputy has been cleared of all charges in a case that has gripped Atlanta since 2022.
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Alton Oliver was on trial for murder, aggravated assault, and firearm possession in the shooting death of 24-year-old Deputy James Thomas. On Friday, a jury returned not guilty verdicts on every count.
The case stemmed from December 29, 2022, when Deputy Thomas was found shot inside his car. Oliver was arrested just days later. During the trial, he took the stand and testified that he acted out of fear. According to Oliver, Thomas approached him multiple times while he was walking home from work around 4:30 a.m., allegedly soliciting sex. Oliver claimed that when Thomas suddenly sped toward him with his car, he fired his weapon in self-defense.
But the tense moment came when the judge accidentally read the verdict as “guilty” instead of “not guilty,” sending shockwaves through the courtroom. After lawyers quickly addressed the mistake, the judge corrected himself and confirmed Oliver’s acquittal.
