Georgia Man in 'Bulletproof Vest' Sentenced for Killing Wife’s Ex-Fiancé During Child Visitation

A Georgia man will spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering his wife's ex-fiancé. 37-year-old Nicholas Michael Mimms has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole and an additional five years for shooting and killing 31-year-old Eduardo "Eddie" Gilberto Figueroa during a child visitation session.

The incident occurred on August 7, 2021, when Figueroa, an Army veteran, arrived at a home on Mohawk Trail in Acworth to meet his son. Instead, he was approached by Mimms, who was tasked with supervising the child visitation.

Figueroa had obtained parental rights shortly before the tragedy, and it was supposed to be his first court-approved meeting with his son. The day took a fatal turn when Mimms shot Figueroa four times.

At around 12 p.m., emergency services responded to reports of a shooting at a home and found Figueroa dead beside the deck with several gunshot wounds. Mimms told investigators that he acted in self-defense as Figueroa posed a threat.

However, surveillance video and audio contradicted this claim. Footage showed Figueroa walking away from the home after realizing his son was not there. Mimms then asked him to return so they could talk and later attacked him.

Prosecutors determined that Mimms was prepared for the shooting as he arrived at the scene wearing a bulletproof vest. In contrast, Figueroa came intending to spend time with his son and brought a stuffed toy, snacks, and diapers.

Assistant District Attorney Megan S. Hertel spoke about the starkly different motives of the two men in a statement to the court and said, “These were two men with very different plans about how this day should go.”

“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,” Hertel said.

After a three-week-long trial, during which 25 witnesses testified and 200 exhibits were entered into evidence, a Cherokee County jury found Mimms guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm on February 13. However, he was found not guilty of malice murder.

According to Figueroa's family, he was a proud Army veteran with a bright future ahead. The victim took a keen interest in video game design and was pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development at Kennesaw State University.

“Eddie was thrilled to graduate in a few months so he could start a video game design company and build a life around his son, my nephew, Leo. We mourn the potential that he did not have the opportunity to fully realize, and I am so proud of who he was,” his sister said in his obituary.