A Georgia man, aged 37, has been sentenced to spend decades in prison after fatally shooting his wife’s former fiancé during a child visitation meeting. The court’s decision marks the culmination of a tragic case that has left two families shattered.

Nicholas Michael Mimms will serve a life sentence following his conviction for the murder of 31-year-old Eduardo “Eddie” Gilberto Figueroa. According to an announcement from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, Mimms faced charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm. Although he was found guilty of these charges, the jury acquitted him of malice murder.

The tragic event stemmed from a complex family situation. Prosecutors explained that Figueroa, who shared a child with Mimms’ wife, had recently secured his parental rights. On the day of the incident, Mimms was tasked with supervising Figueroa’s inaugural court-sanctioned visit with his child. Despite not knowing Figueroa personally, Mimms chose to approach the situation in a manner that would prove fatal.

Figueroa had arrived carrying a stuffed toy, diapers, and snacks — tokens of affection for a child he was eager to meet. In stark contrast, Mimms came prepared with a bulletproof vest and a loaded firearm. This stark difference in intentions was highlighted by Assistant District Attorney Megan S. Hertel, who led the prosecution.

“These were two men with very different plans about how this day should go,” Hertel remarked. “Eduardo Figueroa arrived with love, excitement, and gifts for the son he was going to meet for the very first time. The defendant brought a bulletproof vest and a loaded gun. This was a tragedy, and it should never have happened.”

Figueroa’s family shared heart-wrenching accounts of his anticipation and the joy he felt at the prospect of meeting his son. What was meant to be a day of familial bonding turned into a devastating loss, forever altering the lives of those involved.

“The heartbreak this family has endured is unimaginable. On a day that should have been filled with smiles and laughter, a young father was senselessly gunned down,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “This sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for taking a father from his child and forever altering the lives of those left behind.”

As Law&Crime previously reported, cops responded around noon on Aug. 7, 2021, to the home on Mohawk Trail in the Acworth area of Cherokee County. When they arrived, they found Figueroa dead outside the home on a deck with multiple gunshot wounds.

Mimms claimed self-defense, saying Figueroa was “dangerous” and had “threatened him,” prosecutors say. But Figueroa did not have a gun and posed no threat to Mimms, prosecutors said. The convicted murderer was “waiting outside of the home for Figueroa to arrive,” per prosecutors.

The child and mother were not present. Once Figueroa saw the child was not there, he began to walk away, but the defendant “called him back to talk.” That’s when Mimms shot Figueroa four times in the side, back and arm.

Jurors convicted Mimms after about eight hours of deliberation following the three-week trial.

According to his obituary, Figueroa was a U.S. Army veteran and was attending Kennesaw State University, where he was a student in the Computer Science and Engineering Department with hopes of becoming a video game developer.

“I felt fortunate to be the mother of such a kind, beautiful human being and amazing father,” his mother wrote. “His laughter was contagious, and he was funny, smart, and a great friend. I will miss everything about him — our calls, the I love you’s, and everything in between.”