MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN FIRE-RELATED DEATH

Defendant Upset About Being Kicked Out of Home

Atlanta- A Fulton County jury has returned guilty verdicts in the murder trial of Derrick Brock, 50. Brock was convicted Tuesday of Malice Murder and Felony Murder in connection with the 2003 death of 27-year old James Lockett and the fire-related injuries of two other people.

Defendant Brock entered a Bolton Road rooming house uninvited on January 29, 2003. One of the guests asked Brock to leave and physically forced him out of the house. After being kicked out of the house, Brock, in an obscenity-laced tirade threatened to ‘burn the house down.’ The house was set on fire the next morning. One witness testified seeing Defendant Brock holding a square can with flames outside the home on the morning of the blaze. Victim James Lockett suffered 3rd degree burns over 44% of his body. He was treated in the burn unit of Grady Memorial Hospital where he died nearly a month later on February 23rd from his injuries. Two other people who were inside the rooming house at the time of the fire received minor injuries. Another person escaped unharmed.

Brock was sentenced to life in prison by presiding Fulton County Superior Court Judge Amanda Lee.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Fani Willis with assistance from Senior ADA Claire Farley and DA Investigator Olyemphis Huff. Retired Detective Mike Anthony of the Atlanta Police Department and Captain Cameron Dixon of the Atlanta Fire Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov