Man ‘executed’ over parking spot at Atlanta mall, shooter sentenced to life in prison – WSB-TV Channel 2

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He says the murder happened because of what should have been a minor dispute over a parking space.

In court, the judge called the murder an “execution.”

Fulton County Senior Assistant Prosecutor John Weitnauer said he recommended a life sentence with the possibility of parole because of Ricky LaFargue’s age.

LaFargue was 19 at the time of the murder and had no adult criminal record.

But Judge Alice Benton went further and ordered him to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus five years.

“For murder, I will sentence you to life in prison without parole,” Benton said. “This case is particularly disturbing. Witnesses to the murder described it as an execution. It was an act of pure malice, with a gun pointed at the victim’s head when you pulled the trigger and killed the man, leaving his family and his child without a father.”

The Fulton County District Attorney gave Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne his reaction to the sentence.

“I’m delighted. I understand why the judge gave the sentence she did,” Willis said.

Weitnauer said an SUV carrying LaFargue and four others pulled into a parking spot that Thuan Nguyen and his girlfriend were waiting to open up.

Nguyen and LaFargue’s group went to the mall’s food court.

Prosecutors believe Nguyen, unarmed and outnumbered, must have seen them leave and followed.

During the confrontation, LaFargue, who had a gun in a shoulder bag, stood behind Nguyen and shot him moments later.

LaFargue’s group left in an SUV but quickly crashed and LaFargue fled leaving behind the gun and a hat with his DNA.

“The defense has argued that Mr. LaFargue pulled out the gun, tried to strike the victim and that the gun went off accidentally. A defense that the jury clearly rejected but that I believe will hold up on appeal,” said defense attorney Patrick Brackley.

“There is no evidence that Mr. Nguyen ever punched Mr. LaFargue,” Weitnauer said.

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“It was crazy. There were a lot of people around. It was broad daylight,” Russell said.

“I know we have people who say they’re not going to go to popular places in Atlanta. I’m not prepared to give up anything in Atlanta to include Lenox Mall,” Willis said. “We think Lenox has made great strides since this case. I intend to continue to shop there. I want my constituents to continue to shop there. And I’m going to work with law enforcement to make sure we maintain that safe environment.”

Weitnauer claims that on the witness stand, LaFargue claimed that Nguyen had started a fight with a member of LaFargue’s party and that the man, who pleaded guilty to making false statements to police under the First Offenders Act, also made that claim on the stand.

But none of the state’s independent witnesses confirmed these claims.

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