Security was heavy in a Gwinnett County courtroom Wednesday for the first court appearance of a man who allegedly shot and killed a coworker in downtown Buford.
And Jerome Daniel Colvin, clad in body armor, showed why.
“You people believe in God?” he asked the family of the victim, Allen Craig Willard Jr., according to Channel 2 Action News.
The judge advised him, “OK, you’re not going to be able to talk to the folks in the court.
“So you want me to appoint you (an attorney)? Because take my advice, you need some help,” the judge continued.
RELATED: Man charged in deadly shooting of coworker in downtown Buford
A day earlier, Colvin and Willard, of Suwanee, were dining at Rico’s World Kitchen when an altercation broke out, Gwinnett police said. Colvin allegedly shot Willard outside the restaurant, then tried to run before being caught.
“It all happened outside the restaurant,” police spokesman Wilbert Rundles said. “What led to the actual dispute and altercation, we’re still trying to put together.”
Police didn’t release any new details on the case Wednesday.
While Colvin was being escorted from the courtroom, a family member of the victim could be heard yelling a disparaging comment at him in disgust.
Colvin, of Auburn, has been charged with murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. He is being held without bond in the Gwinnett County Jail.
He and Willard worked at a local towing company, police told Channel 2 on Tuesday.
In Wednesday’s hearing, the judge told Colvin that he doesn’t see why taxpayers should pay for his attorney after Colvin told the judge how much money he has in the bank (a figure he later took back, according to Channel 2).
The judge is expected to make a final decision on appointing an attorney for Colvin on Nov. 29, according to Channel 2.
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