AYERS' WIDOW SPEAKS OUT ABOUT UPCOMING GRAND JURY

The Rev. Jonathan Ayers' widow, Abby, is not pleased with the
procedure being used to review his death.

That information came to light Thursday with the release of a
statement on her behalf from the law firm of Myers & Stroberg LLP in
Gainesville.

Ayers was shot by undercover drug agents in a convenience store
parking lot in Toccoa on Sept. 1.

The case will be presented to a Stephens County Grand Jury on Tuesday,
Dec. 15.

"I appreciate District Attorney Brian Rickman meeting and
communicating with me and my attorneys over the past three months
since the shooting death of my husband," a statement issued by Ayers
through her attorneys reads.

"I am deeply disappointed, however, to now learn that the usual
practice in presenting cases to a grand jury will not be followed
concerning the death of my husband," her statement reads.

"I understand that a first grand jury will be asked to consider the
case and to give an advisory opinion on whether a second grand jury
should be asked to receive evidence and decide whether to return any
criminal indictments against the shooter and others responsible for
Jonathan's death," her statement reads. "I feel that this tilts the
system unfairly in favor of those whose conduct led to this tragic and
shocking loss of my husband and his family, including his unborn child
that I am bearing."

"I intend to follow the law and all recourse available to me to see
that justice is done, and that all those responsible for Jonathan's
death are held accountable," her statement concludes.

Rickman responded to Ayers' statement with the following written
statement:

"The district attorney's office will be presenting the full results of
the investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
into the shooting death of Jonathan Ayers to the Stephens County Grand
Jury for their review. The grand jury will be asked to determine
whether the officer's use of lethal force was justified under Georgia
law and if not, whether criminal charges are supported by the evidence
and Georgia law. This process is important for a fair and transparent
review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic event by the
citizen members of the Grand Jury.

"The district attorney respects the right of the family of Jonathan
Ayers to express their feelings about the incident and the subsequent
legal proceedings and will continue to keep them in our thoughts and
prayers," Rickman's statement concludes.