After deadly car attack, suburban McDonald’s works toward normalcy

Published 9:33 am Friday, May 26, 2006

COVINGTON — It appeared to be a normal noon hour Thursday in this old-South town. A country gospel band, hunkered down under shade, sang a peppy “Open Up Them Pearly Gates” to a foot-tapping lunchtime audience in the city square. People waited in line for fast food at several restaurants, including a nearby McDonald’s.

However, in front of the McDonald’s, a U.S. flag was flying at half-staff and grim-faced employees scooped up stuffed animals, flowers and cards left on the sidewalk — signs that things are not quite back to normal here.

It was at this very location 48 hours earlier where five people were hit by a car, leaving a 2-year-old girl dead, two other children battling serious injuries and two women also hospitalized. Police say the car’s driver, Lanny Barnes, deliberately and repeatedly rammed his green Honda Accord into and over the five victims.

Employees and customers acted bravely to try to pull the victims away from the car and then to help apprehend Barnes as he tried to drive away. Barnes now sits in a Newton County jail, where he’s been denied bond and faces murder charges.

While there’s still no apparent motive, those who witnessed the attack continue to battle their emotions: There is grief over seeing the young children and two women — one pregnant, police confirmed Thursday — fall helpless to the forward and backward attacks of the car. There is anger from those who claim Barnes smiled and laughed from behind the steering wheel.

A McDonald’s manager who gently asked a reporter to leave Thursday said the business is attempting to serve customers as usual with no unnecessary reminders of Tuesday’s horrific scene.

The paint markings that police left on the asphalt parking lot and the sidewalk to mark the events Tuesday have since been erased. The makeshift memorial on the sidewalk was removed, the stuffed animals placed in two large boxes and taken away.

The only reminder of the attack inside the restaurant were small plastic jars beside the cash registers, each bearing a handwritten note asking for donations for the five victims.

Customers continued to point at the spot where Barnes rammed his car into the building and talk about the alleged crime. One man, who said he was standing on the sidewalk during the attack, shook his head as he remembered what happened to the 2-year-old girl, Avery Nicole King, who died Wednesday.

“He just ran right over her face,” said the man, who refused to provide his name. He spent most of Thursday morning at the restaurant, saying he already had been interviewed by police.

The man said he couldn’t assist with a police lineup because he wasn’t sure he would recognize the driver’s face. All he can remember is the little girl’s face.

Avery’s mother, Anita King, 36, of Asheville, N.C., was treated and released from Newton Medical Center on Tuesday but was again hospitalized Wednesday. Covington Assistant Police Chief Almond Turner said that Anita King is pregnant, but he said he did not know the circumstances of why or where she was readmitted to a hospital.

Her sister, Stephanie Casola, 33, of Covington, was listed in fair condition Thursday, Grady Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Denise Simpson said. Casola’s children, Jacob Paul, 4, was in fair condition and Isaac Raymond, 3, was in serious condition at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Casola’s husband is the Rev. Paul Casola of Passion Community Church in Covington, where another memorial of flowers, notes and gifts grew through the day Thursday.

A man and woman wiped away tears as they signed a sympathy book in front of the doors to the church. The man, who also requested anonymity, said “We were there when it happened. We really don’t want to talk. It’s too hard for us.”

Barnes, already facing five counts of felony aggravated assault, is now also charged with felony murder, malice murder and four counts of aggravated battery. Felony murder in Georgia law is a killing committed during the commission of another crime, while malice murder is killing with deliberation.

District Attorney Ken Wynne said the four counts of aggravated battery were added because the victims sustained broken bones.

Barnes’ second hearing before Chief Magistrate Judge Henry Baker was set for Friday to have the new charges read. In his first appearance before Baker on Tuesday, Barnes, 46, was ordered held without bail pending a mental evaluation.

Police Chief Stacey Cotton said there is no doubt the attacks were no accident, but the motive was unknown and the attack was apparently random. He declined to comment on the witness reports that Barnes was smiling during the attack.

Barnes’ lawyer, Anthony Carter, said mental health could be a factor in his defense. Mary Barnes told The Associated Press that her son has suffered depression for years.

“We are beginning a full investigation into all aspects of this case, including Mr. Barnes’ mental capacity at the time of the incident, as well as past mental health treatment,” Carter said.