Left: Nicholas Michael Mimms (Cherokee County Sheriff”s Office). Right: Eduardo “Eddie” Gilberto Figueroa (Scott Huskins Funeral Home).
A Georgia jury has handed down a guilty verdict to a 37-year-old man who fatally shot his wife’s former fiancé during a scheduled child visitation, as reported by authorities.
Nicholas Michael Mimms was convicted on charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and firearm possession during a felony in connection with the death of 31-year-old Eduardo “Eddie” Gilberto Figueroa. However, the jury acquitted him of malice murder, according to the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors outlined that Figueroa, who shared a child with Mimms’ wife, had recently secured his parental rights. This tragic meeting was intended to be the first supervised visitation, with Mimms overseeing the interaction, despite not having met Figueroa previously.
On the day of the incident, Figueroa arrived with a stuffed animal as a gift for his child, while Mimms was equipped with a firearm and donned body armor. Law enforcement was called to the scene on August 7, 2021, at a residence on Mohawk Trail in Cherokee County’s Acworth area. Officers discovered Figueroa’s body on the deck outside, having suffered several gunshot wounds.
Mimms defended his actions by claiming self-defense, alleging that Figueroa posed a threat and had intimidated him. However, prosecutors countered that Figueroa was unarmed and no danger to Mimms, pointing out that Mimms was already outside, seemingly waiting for Figueroa to arrive.
Both the child and the mother were absent at the scene during the shooting.
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.”
A sentencing date for Mimms has yet to be set.
