Jurors have found a man guilty but mentally ill in the murder of a church member during a prayer service.
Floyd Palmer, a former church member, is accused of shooting praise leader Greg McDowell 12 times in 2012.
Palmer was found guilty but mentally ill on all counts, including murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.
Palmer, who had a blank stare on his face as a jury foreman read the verdict, was sentenced to life without parole plus 5 years in prison consecutively.
Prosecutors say Palmer left the church after the shooting and eventually made his way to Macy’s in Lenox Square. A Macy’s employee said he heard about the shooting on social media, then came face to face with Palmer.
“We made eye contact … we didn’t have a conversation. Nothing,” she said.
Before that, Atlanta police officer Donovan Clements said Palmer approached to him and tried to turn himself in, but he couldn’t tell him why he needed to be arrested.
Palmer’s attorney said he’s mentally ill and thought McDowell and the church were out to get him.
“Floyd Palmer was insane. He had insane thoughts in his mind,” said attorney Marissa Goldberg.
Rosetta McDowell says her faith teaches her to forgive Palmer for killing her husband.
“I forgive you. I forgive you. And I do not harbor hate for you,” she said.
