The man accused of shooting and killing a former National Guard member in broad daylight on a Buford, Ga. street made an unusual first court appearance on Wednesday.
Jerome Daniel Colvin is accused of gunning down Allen Craig Willard Jr. on a downtown Buford street Tuesday afternoon. Police believe the two knew each other from work and were eating lunch nearby when an argument broke out.
In his first appearance before Magistrate Court Judge Ken Parker, Colvin stood silently in the seconds after the judge asked he needed a court-appointed attorney before asking, "Do you believe in God?"
It wasn't apparent who Colvin asked the question of, but the judge quickly admonished him not to talk to anyone else in the courtroom.
After the bailiff implored Colvin to answer the judge, the murder suspect replied, "I want my father to judge me."
"No, answer the judge's question," the bailiff said.
After more questioning, in which Colvin gave uncertain answers but said he thought he had $20,000 in the bank, the judge said it appeared that he might be able to afford an attorney.
"Yeah, I could," Colvin said.
"Then I suggest you go hire one," the judge said.
Colvin said he wasn't sure how much money he had but said, "there's probably 20 grand in there I guess."
Colvin's preliminary hearing was set for November 29. The judge told him that he had not been able to afford an attorney, the matter would be readdressed.
As deputies led Colvin out of the courtroom, someone yelled an expletive in his direction and several women were seen crying.
Colvin is charged with felony murder, malice murder and aggravated assault.