LIFE IN PRISON PLUS 60 YEARS FOR ATLANTA MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING MOTHER OF FOUR

ERIC WHEELER SENTENCED FOR TERROR, TORTURE AND MURDER

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that Eric Wheeler (30) has been sentenced to life in prison plus 60 years to be served consecutively for the April 26, 2003 murder of Sonya Corbett (24) and the wounding of LaKeisha Hicks (23) and Albert Carter (22) at 976 Grant Street in the City of Atlanta. Wheeler was found guilty of (one) count of Malice Murder, (three) counts of Felony Murder, (three) counts of Aggravated Assault, (one) count of Burglary, (three) counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and (one) count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

According to court testimony Wheeler burst into Sonya Corbett home at 3 am brandishing a 9 millimeter handgun and screaming "I'm going to kill everybody in here." He first shot Albert Carter, the victim's cousin, 5 times as he tried to escape by jumping out a second story window. Wheeler then turned the gun on Corbett shooting her three times, including once in the back. Wheeler also shot LaKeisha Hicks, a family friend present during the attack. Both Carter and Hicks survived and were key prosecution witnesses in the case. Corbett's four children who range in age from 5 to 8 years old were not in the home at the time of the attack.

Family members of the victim presented emotionally charged impact statements, pleading with Superior Court Judge John Goger to send a message to "all the men who treat women like this". Judge Goger responded by not only sentencing Wheeler to the maximum in the case before him, but also required that this sentence run consecutive with a 15 year sentence Wheeler received in Dekalb County for Aggravated Assault against Ms. Corbett in 2001.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Shondeana Crews prosecuted the case; Atlanta Police Sgt. Guerruchi investigated, and Judge John Goger presided.

CONTACT: Jada Dawkins, 404-730-0195 (office)