Chaperone Convicted of Murdering U.S. Army Vet Father as He Arrived for His First Custody Visit

A Georgia man who shot and killed a father as he arrived for a custody visit with his son has been found guilty of murder.

Nicholas Mimms, 37, said he shot Eduardo “Eddie” Gilberto Figueroa, 31, multiple times in self-defense on Aug. 7, 2021. Figueroa had been scheduled to see his son that day, and Mimms had been designated to chaperone the visit, according to court records.

At the time, Figueroa had recently established parental rights to the child, officials said. He had previously been engaged to the boy’s mother, who later married Mimms.

Deputies arrived at the home and found Figueroa face down on a deck outside with multiple apparent gunshot wounds, according to court documents. Figueroa was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mimms admitted to shooting him but maintained at trial that he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors challenged that account, noting that the child was not at the home when Figueroa arrived and that Mimms had positioned himself outside wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a loaded gun.

Prosecutors said Mimms had never met Figueroa before that day and that Figueroa was unarmed when he arrived. They said he was carrying a stuffed animal he had purchased to give to his son.

After a three-week trial that included testimony from 25 witnesses, the jury deliberated for eight hours. Mimms was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was acquitted of malice murder. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Figueroa’s obituary said he was a U.S. Army veteran who was studying computer science at a local college at the time of his death.

“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.”