ATLANTA, Ga. — A man accused of murder was given a $100,000 cash bond in court Wednesday after a judge called him a significant threat to the community.
The family of the victim was stunned as they sat in the courtroom and listened to the hearing. They told Channnel 2’s Liz Artz it was a very emotional day.
"They aint going to let them get away with hurting Keith like that okay," said Gail Butler, the victim's mother.
Artz was there as Butler tried to comfort her son outside the courthouse. Butler’s other son Marvin Butler told Artz it was the worst feeling he’s ever experienced outside of learning his brother Keith had been shot and killed.
Gail Butler also expressed her disbelief at the bond given to the man accused of killing her son.
"How do you give him a bond? What happened here? Who did what to allow this man to murder my baby to get a bond," Butler said.
Channel 2 Action News was the only TV station in the courtroom as David Jacobs was given the bond.
Jacobs is accused of killing Keith Butler in 2013 over a $5 cover charge dispute at Cloud 6 Hookah Lounge off Farrington Road.
Butler’s oldest son Isiah Sayles also attended the bond hearing.
"He hadn't even been indicted yet, now a lot of stuff is coming up. It's like they're not doing their job as lawyers," Sayles said.
The DA's office told Artz it doesn't want to rush the investigation, especially when it's a murder case.
A spokesman said prosecutors want to be thorough, and did not indict before the 90-day time period where the courts must hold a bond hearing.
Therefore the judge was legally required to issue a bond, even though she told the court she believed he was a flight risk and a significant threat to the community.
"It's pretty high I don't think he got $100,000 laying around somewhere," Sayles said.
Police say Jacobs fled to New Jersey shortly after Butler was killed.
He was arrested there and extradited to Georgia, but police said he had to go through the court system in New Jersey on unrelated charges before extradition.
Jacobs was brought back to Georgia on March 12.