JONESBORO, Ga. — A Clayton County grand jury decided not to charge the police officer who shot and killed Eric Holmes. Now, his mother is trying to hold the officer and the county accountable for her son's death.
It's been one year and one day since 19-year-old Eric Holmes was shot and killed outside of his job by a Clayton County Police officer. It happened while police were conducting a stolen vehicle investigation along Commerce Road in Stone Mountain.
His mom, Vakelvion Holmes, said she’s on a mission to get justice for her son.
“You guys do whatever you want to do. It's on paperwork. It’s documented. It's no action to it. It's not fair. And it's happened time after time. I just feel like if you don’t stand up, you don’t get heard," Vakelvion Holmes said.
Eric Holmes was a single dad to a four-year-old son and was working to help the child’s mom through school when he was killed.
RELATED: 19-year-old shot, killed by Clayton County officer during stolen vehicle investigation, GBI says
In the wrongful death lawsuit Homles' mother filed Tuesday, she alleges county officials and former officer Justin Stephens were negligent.
State records show after the shooting, Stephens resigned in lieu of being fired.
“The county knew this officer was a liability and that the officer was negligent. We also have other civil rights violations that the officer has done," Vakelvion Holmes said.
Community activist Meia Ballinger said what happened to Eric Holmes is inexcusable and county leaders need to know that.
“You walked out of this courthouse free as a bird. It's not fair. So I’m going to continue to fight. We’re gonna fight until justice is served," Ballinger said.
The lawsuit was filed in Clayton County State Court on Tuesday.
Both the county and Stephens are named as defendants.
Valkelvion Holmes delivered the summons herself to the Clayton County Sheriff's Office.
“You’ve been served," she said.
So far, no one from the county has responded to our requests for an interview.