Bobby Tillman, Randomly Murdered, Had Just Seen Play on Bullying
Nov. 12, 2010 — -- Bobby Tillman, the Georgia teenager who was randomly selected for a beating by teens outside a house party, attended a play at his church on bullying only hours before he was punched, hit and kicked to death.
The play at Lithia Springs Church of Christ, "Being Bullied," was produced by Tillman's grandmother.
"He had never been bullied until he was bullied when he passed away. When they killed him, that was bullying," his mother, Monique Rivarde, told ABC News.
The Douglas County Coroner's office confirmed to ABC News that Tillman, 18, died of blunt force trauma sustained during the attack. Tillman was battered and stomped so badly that one of his bones broke and pierced his heart.
Tillman's family will hold a viewing of his body this afternoon for friends and loved ones. His funeral will take place Saturday morning.
The slightly built Tillman only weighed 124 pounds. He was picked for the assault at random as he passed a group of teenagers who said they intended to attack the next male they saw.
"I knew Bobby was small. I always instilled in him that he's strong, he's a man, he has confidence and he didn't have to take anything from anyone -- there are ways to solve it," Rivarde said.
Four teenagers -- 18-year-old Emanuel Boykins, 19-year-old Horace Coleman, 18-year-old Quantez Mallory and 19-year-old Tracen Lamar Franklin -- were arraigned in Douglas County court Monday. Each was charged with murder and held without bond.
Coleman denied any involvement in Tillman's death. "I'm saying I'm innocent," he told ABC affiliate WSB-TV from jail.
"I don't think you'll ever know why it happened. It's senseless," Douglas County District Attorney David McDade said. "This is an absolutely unprovoked, senseless killing by young people killing another young man for no reason, no motive."
According to county police, Tillman was the innocent victim of a fight between two women and two men on the street outside a party Saturday. The argument escalated until one of the women hit one of the men, police said.
Instead of hitting the woman back, the man said he would hit the next male who came along, according to police. Tillman "came walking by and they beat him up and stomped and killed him," Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller said.
