Atlanta man accused of fatally shooting longtime friend over $35 sentenced to life

A 65-year-old Atlanta man accused of fatally shooting his longtime friend during a dispute over $35 was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the crime. According to USA TODAY, Rickey Carter was handed the life sentence on March 19 after he was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Authorities said Carter shot and killed Quinlan Parker, 48, on January 28, 2022, when he confronted him over money that the victim owed him. In a statement, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said officers responded to an apartment on Maypop Lane on the said date to investigate a report about an individual who had been shot.

The statement said Parker had succumbed to a gunshot wound to the chest when officers arrived at the home. In the wake of the fatal encounter, Parker’s wife, Crystal, told investigators that Carter came to their home not too long after her husband returned from work. She said they allowed the suspect in as he and the victim were longtime friends. 

The statement said Carter and Parker subsequently got into an argument over money that the victim “had borrowed a few weeks earlier.” “Hearing yelling, Parker’s stepdaughter came out of her room and began to record the argument on her cellphone,” the statement added.

“Parker’s wife said Defendant Carter pulled out a small black handgun and then she heard a gunshot.  Defendant Carter tried to claim that he shot Mr. Parker in self-defense, but the cell phone video showed Mr. Parker backing away from Carter before he opened fire.”

Authorities said Carter left the house after the shooting and Crystal performed CPR on her husband until paramedics responded to the scene. The victim, however, did not survive. Parker was killed just a month after he married Crystal. 

Crystal told USA TODAY that Carter’s conviction was “such a relief.” “It was the craziest feeling because we have been fighting for so long,” she added. Crystal and her daughter also took the stand during the trial. 

“If it wasn’t for my daughter videoing it, it would have probably been a fight (in court),” Crystal said. “When you’re a witness you have to remember everything just to make sure you get justice whenever it does happen.”

But she said it “was crazy” that Carter did not show any remorse in court. “It’s hurtful to know you did it,” she said. “It’s not even an if, and or but. You did it and we’re sitting here fighting against you. Say ‘I’m guilty’ and just take it, he never did that.”

“I think a lot of people had broken hearts,” she added. “We were still in our honeymoon stage.”

Crystal, however, said the suspect’s family apologized for his actions, adding that the incident had also similarly left them “heartbroken.” “I guess that’s the part that helps me forgive the situation because sometimes it’s just one bad apple,” Crystal said.