x
Breaking News
More () »

UPDATE: Man sentenced to life without parole in 2017 Warner Robins killing

"He loved the Lord, he loved people, and he is an angel."

UPDATE: Friday 3 p.m.

A Houston County news release says Daniel Thomas was sentenced on Friday to life without parole.

------------------------------------

A man charged with killing a Warner Robins man that was mentoring him has been found guilty on all counts.

According to a release from the Houston County District Attorney's office, 25-year-old Daniel Thomas was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault on Wednesday.

Those charges stemmed from a shooting that happened nearly a year ago on Dec. 9, 2017.

CASE HISTORY

Officers responded to a call of a person shot that morning on Villa North Court.

When they arrived, they found 55-year-old Elliot Mizell dead in his home from a single gunshot wound.

RELATED: Warner Robins homicide victim identified (Dec. 2017)

During the investigation, Thomas was identified as a suspect and admitted to investigators that he was involved in the shooting but that he got into an argument with Mizell and the gun was accidentally discharged.

Detectives found that Thomas' story was not true, based on other statements and evidence from the scene.

---

Mizell was known to be a member of the FVSU alumni association and member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

RELATED | 'He is an angel:' Friends remember Warner Robins homicide victim (Dec. 2017)

Back in December 2017, warrants revealed Thomas called his mother after the shooting and said he shot a man with a friend's gun.

RELATED: Warrant says accused Warner Robins killer confessed to mom (Dec. 2017)

She also told investigators that Mizell visited her and told her that he was trying to mentor her son just a week before he was killed.

"For this man to do what he's alleged of doing sends shockwaves around this community," Mizell's longtime friend Robert Ross said last year.

---

Thomas will be sentenced Friday and faces life in prison without parole.

Before You Leave, Check This Out