ATLANTA — A man accused of killing a police detective learned prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against him.
Amanuel Menghesha, 42, faces 29 counts, including murder and aggravated assault on a police officer.
Fulton County police say Menghesha gunned down Fulton County police Detective Terence Green in March.
Menghesha was in court for an arraignment Monday when a prosecutor in the District Attorney's Office stood up and announced the state was seeking the ultimate punishment.
[READ: Bond denied for man accused of killing police officer]
Green's parents were in the courtroom, and his mother told Channel 2's Tom Jones the decision doesn't affect her one way or the other.
"Whether he gets the death penalty or not, we don't win anything. Our son is gone," Bertha Green said. "He isn't coming back. So whatever ... it's a no-win situation for us."
Police said Menghesha was drunk when he violated a court order to stay away from his fiancée and daughter March 4.
They say he began firing an AK-47 near Chastain way, then opened fire on Fulton County police when they arrived. That's when Green was shot in the head.
[Photos: Fulton officer shot, killed]
Green's mother watched Menghesha as he received the news the state would attempt to take his life for killing her son.
"He acted like he didn't even care or hear. No emotions period. He just stood there," Green said.
Green's father, Johnny Green, told Jones the state's notice of intent to seek the death penalty is a step forward.
"No matter how I feel about the death penalty, it means the wheels of justice have begun to turn," Green said.
The Greens say they will be at every court appearance until they get justice.
WSBTV
