Former Georgia cops indicted for the murder of Gregory Towns Jr.

   Faces of the cops indicted for the murder of Gregory Towns Jr.   (C)WBS

Former East Point police Sgt. Marcus Eberhart, 41, and former Cpl. Howard Weems, 49, have been charged for the April 2014 death of 24-year-old Gregory Towns Jr. The two did "materially accelerate" Towns' death by repeatedly using their stun guns on Towns, who was "exhibiting signs of fatigue and shortness of breath," the indictment said. A grand jury came to this decision after prosecutors said they used stun guns on a man while his hands were cuffed behind his back, the Associated Press reports.
An autopsy by the Fulton County medical examiner's office found Towns died from "hypertensive cardiovascular disease exacerbated by physical exertion and conducted electrical stimulation." The autopsy report lists the manner of death as a homicide.
Eberhart and Weems each face a single count of felony murder, aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct, as well as three counts apiece of violation of oath by a public officer.
Eberhart resigned July 9, 2014, and Weems was fired the next day, according to a statement from the office of Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.

Gregory Towns Jr.

Officers were called to a townhome community on April 11, 2014, on a domestic dispute call involving Towns and his girlfriend, Howard's office said. Towns ran into a nearby wooded area after encountering police in the parking lot, but was quickly caught and handcuffed. When Eberhart and Weems arrived, they demanded that Towns stand and walk to a patrol car. When Towns said he was "out of breath" and couldn't stand, the offers used their stun guns on him, the statement said. After being repeatedly hit, he became unconscious and later died.
Towns' family in August 2014 filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the two officers and the city of East Point. The city settled the lawsuit for $1 million in November. Chris Stewart, a lawyer for Towns' family, said the indictment is a step in the right direction. "We're happy there has been an indictment for both officers, but it's not done yet," Stewart said. "It is an example nationally that officers can be held accountable for their actions."