COVINGTON, Ga. (AP) - A man pleaded guilty today and was sentenced to life in prison for running down two woman and three children in a McDonald's parking lot in Covington, killing a two-year-old.
Lanny Perry Barnes admitted running over the five in his car in a random attack in May 2006.
Police said the Barnes' car struck the five, hit the restaurant, then backed up and hit the victims again. Witnesses said they saw Barnes laughing behind the wheel.
Avery Nicole King of North Carolina died of her injuries. Her mother, Anita King, and Covington residents Stephanie Casola and her two sons, Isaac and Jake, recovered from their injuries.
The 47-year-old Barnes suffers from leukemia and is due soon for a bone marrow transplant.
At the time of the incident, Barnes' mother said her son had suffered depression for years.