Help Tyrone King Stay Alive for His Wife & Four Children

My name is Robert T. Homlar, an attorney representing Tyrone Edell King—a husband, a father of four, and a man now fighting for his life after a devastating and absolutely preventable medical tragedy.

On August 15, 2024, Tyrone was arrested for a non-violent offense by Richmond Richmond County Sheriff's Office. At the time of arrest, he told officers over and over that he couldn’t breathe, had difficulty walking, was sweating and told officers “my chest is tightening up.” and he felt like he was going to pass out.

Instead of rushing him to the hospital, officers called in a "non-emergency" call for an ambulance that came to the scene. From records, the ambulance was there eight minutes total before releasing him back to law enforcement who booked him into jail. There, he vomited, struggled to breathe, and begged for help. For three days, his symptoms were brushed aside.

By the time a nurse finally ran an EKG on August 18, 2024, Tyrone was determined to have had a massive heart attack caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery. He was rushed to Piedmont Hospital’s cardiovascular ICU, but the damage was already done.

Tyrone’s heart was permanently weakened—over 70% damaged. He underwent emergency surgery, was given an Impella heart pump, later required a wearable LifeVest defibrillator and sent back to jail. Two weeks later he was released on bond. In May 2025 he had an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) surgically implanted to keep him alive. At 32 years of age, he is the youngest patient at Piedmont to ever receive this device. And he is now on the heart transplaint list.

Before these events, he was working construction and supporting his family.

All of this could have been avoided if he had received proper medical care at the time of his arrest.

Now, Tyrone can’t work. His spouse is carrying for their newborn and working and doing everything she can, but with four children to raise, the family is struggling to keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table, and cover the ENORMOUS out-of-pocket costs for his ongoing care.

They urgently need help to pay for:

Rent and utilities to keep the family together and stable

Transportation to countless medical appointments and hospital visits here and in Atlanta with specialists

Medications, equipment, and home modifications so Tyrone can live safely

Basic living expenses while he waits for the heart transplant that will save his life

Tyrone is not just a patient—he’s a father who wants to see his children grow up.

Your donation could give him that chance. And every penny given will go only to his family's needs.

If you can, please give. If you can’t give, please share Tyrone’s story. Your help could be the difference between him making it to that transplant—or leaving his wife to raise four children without their father.

Thank you for caring.

— Robert T. Homlar, Attorney at Law