UPDATE (5/2/25): A Peach County jury has convicted Christopher Alexander Miller on all charges related to a 2022 shooting that killed 23-month-old Marcus Ball Jr according to a news release from Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard’s Office Jurors deliberated for less than an hour and a half Thursday before finding Miller guilty of malice murder two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony (Photo: Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office) According to the District Attorney’s Office Miller fired several shots toward Building D in the Lakeview Apartments in Fort Valley on July 20 part of a dispute with another person who lived in the building A bullet went through Markailey Ball’s right arm and into the head of her brother while they were being held by their teenage sister The District Attorney’s Office said investigators from Howard’s team had to take a substantially more active role due to issues in the initial investigation and six officers who testified are no longer with the original investigating agency Two officers traveled as far as 200 miles to testify “The reckless disregard for human life demonstrated in this case will not be tolerated in our communities,” Howard said “When innocent children become victims of senseless gun violence Today’s conviction demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders accountable.” Miller was sentenced Friday morning to life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years UPDATE (8/22/22):  One of the suspects in the July 20 shootings in Fort Valley that claimed the life of a 1-year-old and injured his 2-year-old sister is now behind bars Christopher Miller was taken into custody Saturday night in Warner Robins That’s according to a release on the Fort Valley Police Department’s Facebook Page Georgia(41NBC/WMGT)—  A shooting in Fort Valley leaves a 1-year-old dead and his sister fighting for her life Fort Valley police responded to a shots fire call at Lakeview Apartments on Wednesday around 10:45 p.m police found two children with gunshot wounds One-year-old Marcus Ball was pronounced dead on scene was taken to the hospital in serious condition Fort Valley Police Chief Roy Thompson says they have a person of interest “We welcome any assistance from the community or any information at all about this case to help in the investigation,” said Chief Thompson He says the department is also helping organize safer security measures as well “We’re working with apartment management as this time to create a more comprehensive security plan as we already started to develop that security plan,” he said Sandra Marshall lives down the road from the apartment complex Marshall said she was scared when the shooting happened She hopes the community will come together to help prevent more violence “It’s unfortunate and my mind goes out to my neighbors It’s unfortunate that this has happened again,” said Marshall If you have any information about the shooting call the Fort Valley Police Department at (478) 825-3383 It all started on Monday when Fort Valley Police Department (FVPD) officers responded to reports of a single-shooter firing multiple shots in the parking lot near the E-building of the complex who was identified as 20-year-old Emmanuel Talton struck a vehicle with two passengers inside but Talton was arrested that same day and taken to the Peach County Detention Center officers were patrolling the area to ensure there was no retaliation from the shooting That's when officers spotted four people walking toward the Lakeview Apartments with long guns who they discovered had a firearm with an altered serial number Swain was then taken into custody on multiple charges FVPD officers patrolling the Lakeview community heard several shots fired That's when they discovered two 19-year-olds were shot in the leg and a 21-year-old was grazed FVPD is still investigating the shooting and is pursuing a male "suspect of interest" who drives a white sedan with stolen tags Chief Flores says he believes the string of shootings and arrests in the Lakeview community is gang-related WGXA's Carlos Stephens will have more on this story at 5 PM on FOX24 and at 6 PM on ABC16 Purdue football dipped down to the Division II level in an attempt to further enhance its defensive front one quarterback hurry and one blocked kick over nine games last season He had recorded two sacks in 19 games over his first three seasons Power and speed: He didn't practice, yet this 'power guy that can hit a home run' will help Purdue Purdue had already added former Arkansas defensive lineman Ian Jeffries and former North Texas edge rusher Braylon Charles since the end of spring practice Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Fort Valley Police are investigating a shooting that injured three people early Thursday morning at the Lakeview Apartments on Edwards Street according to a news release from Fort Valley Police Chief DJ Flores Officers in the area heard several gunshots around 12:15 a.m and responded to the 1100 block of Edwards Street where they found a 17-year-old male and a 19-year-old female with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to the leg A 21-year-old female was also grazed by a stray bullet on her arm The department’s Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and began investigating Chief Flores said officers identified a suspect vehicle and at least one person of interest Chief Flores asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Fort Valley Police Department (WGXA) — A Warner Robins man says he was wrongfully targeted by a Fort Valley police officer during what he claims was an unjustified search Curtis Jones shared his account exclusively with WGXA’s Carlos Stephens Jones says the incident happened Sunday while he was pumping gas at a Circle K As I came out and walked over to take off my gas cap what’s that stench I smell coming from your car?’” Jones recalled He says the officer accused him of having marijuana and demanded to search his vehicle Jones says he refused and asked for a K-9 unit okay’”Jones says he tried to call 911 for help but was met with force ‘I’m not resisting.’” He says he was slammed against his car and feared for his life “I was feeling anxious I felt like I was about to be unalived out here.” Jones says a second officer later arrived and helped de-escalate the situation Despite no marijuana being found and no signs of impairment he says he’s now facing an obstruction charge Fort Valley Police Chief DJ Flores says the body cam footage tells a different story the officer followed Jones to the gas station after a previous traffic stop “The officer tried to get the individual to comply peacefully—and he refused,” said Chief Flores WGXA news asked Flores if he believed his officer did anything wrong in the situation “Sometimes it’s just well hidden,” he added The individual has a right to due process.” (WGXA) — Fort Valley Councilwoman Juanita Bryant is facing new charges following an incident at a city council work session that led to her second arrest of the year According to police reports obtained by WGXA a captain with the Fort Valley Police Department (FVPD) was working at the session when he heard a disturbance inside the chamber The captain went inside to find Councilwoman Bryant "visibly upset and in a verbal dispute with Councilwoman Laronda Eason." Bryant told the captain that she had been bumped in the back by Eason The captain then tried to separate the councilwomen but Bryant continued to make threats toward Eason Once the captain walked Bryant outside of the chamber so I can kick your a**!" The captain noted that it was said a second time after being told she could not say that The captain also spoke with Councilwoman Eason who told a different story Eason claims she was speaking with Police Chief Flores when she was "struck in her back" by Bryant "Excuse you," and claimed Bryant began to curse at her and said "We can take it outside." The captain said Eason responded with The report said Eason claimed she was experiencing a slight pain in her right shoulder afterward and wished to pursue charges against Bryant NEWS FOR YOU | Georgia lawmakers unite to tackle unregulated 'anti-abortion clinics' across the state The report also details a conversation between the captain and Chief Flores who saw the whole thing stating he was in a conversation with Eason when Bryant made physical contact with her Chief Flores also heard the threats being made toward Eason to the effect of "I'm going to being to beat your a**." Councilwoman Bryant was arrested and charged with two counts of terroristic threats and acts and simple battery Bryant was arrested earlier this year after disrupting a council meeting on Jan Stick with WGXA where we're keeping you ready for what's next Fort Valley Police officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Spruce Street following reports of a gunshot officers discovered a 33-year-old male who had sustained a gunshot wound to his lower body The victim was quickly transported to Navicent Health in Macon where he is currently listed in stable condition The Fort Valley Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and has since identified a male subject connected to the incident Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Fort Valley Police Department (WGXA) — After a season filled with historic milestones Fort Valley State University’s men’s volleyball team is preparing to celebrate a major achievement you’re going to have arguments and disagreements we understand we have a standard—and part of that is looking out for each other,” said team member Isaiah Fedd during their final home game of the season the Wildcats will unveil a new championship banner The banner will commemorate a landmark year for the team featuring their first-ever regular season title the Wildcats are the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to reach the NCAA Championship in men’s volleyball—a milestone that has already begun to inspire others who watched the team from the sidelines for two years said the team’s progress made him want to get involved it’s just been about making history and doing things nobody else has done,” Thomas said Freshman Dozie Ononye said he’s proud to be part of a program that’s paving the way for future success “I’m just happy for the guys who put in the work before I got here—to see them finally get the benefits of all their effort And this won’t be the last time,” Ononye said Head Coach Larry Wrather says the banner is just the beginning of a much bigger vision “Thirty years of trophies—how crazy would that look The banner unveiling is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m FORT VALLEY VA: (ROCKTOWN NOW) – A Fort Valley woman According to the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office 53 year old Janice Joyce went missing on Thursday when she was seen leaving her Fort Valley home Joyce was located by a search team and transported to a local hospital She was unresponsive but breathing when found Joyce has been the subject of an extensive search Local residents came together to support the search effort with a volunteer rescue effort assembled at the Fort Valley Fire Department following guidance from the Sheriff’s Office to aid in the operation.adButlerLazyLoad("719241025483785420",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034"); Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing woman VDOT is seeking feedback on a transportation study assessing potential solutions on Route 42 (Virginia Avenue) between Gay Street and the Harrisonburg city limit the RHSPCA Pets of the Week sponsored by Bob Wade Subaru The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple calls Monday morning about a Staunton individual which led to him being unresponsive in-custody Showers and thunderstorm will be possible again today Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again 3vs0Fort Valley State Photo by: John FajardoLong Beach State Starts the Inaugural Silver State Showcase With A Win Over Fort Valley State1/31/2025 8:29:00 PM | Men's Volleyball The first meeting in program history between these two teams was a sweep for Long Beach State 1 Long Beach State opened up the Silver State Showcase from Reno with a 3-0 sweep The Beach ended up with nine aces combined from four different players making an impact from the service line while a strong defense held Fort Valley State to a .189 hitting percentage Sotiris Siapanis finished with eight kills to go with four aces, part of a balanced effort offensively that saw six different players finish with five or more kills for Long Beach State (7-0). The Beach was once again guided expertly by setter Moni Nikolov to a team hitting percentage of .385 Freshman middle blocker Isaiah Prueitt also had a strong night making seven kills on eight swings with no errors Fort Valley State (2-5) was able to grab the momentum early to hold a small lead at 6-4 in the first set. The Beach regained the lead at 10-9 thanks to back-to-back kills from Moni Nikolov The freshman was on fire as he led the team in kills during the first set but a service error along with some attack errors from the Wildcats helped the Beach build an 18-14 lead and two more service errors from Fort Valley State helped close out the first 25-19 The third set was the closest yet, but Long Beach State's depth ultimately helped the Beach close out the sweep. Fort Valley State opened up an early lead at 6-4, and pushed out to an 11-7 edge early in the set. Long Beach State quickly pushed back, closing out a 4-0 service run by Sebastiano Sani with an ace and a kill from Siapanis to tie things up at 11-11 A kill from Pruiett finally gave Long Beach State the lead at 17-16 and Sani followed with another kill for a two-point lead a service run from Nikolov helped Long Beach State gain control of the set to help finish off the match A kil from Sani and an ace made the score 20-17 and the Beach would push two more with a Hershtynovich kill and a block grabbing a 23-17 lead on the way to the 25-20 third set victory The Beach will face Belmont Abbey tomorrow at 7 p.m – The Fort Valley Police Department is introducing a new addition to its fleet—motorcycles leased for just one dollar per year each the department currently has three motorcycles obtained through officers in the Reserve Program While the department is responsible for insurance Flores emphasized that it does not increase expenses The motorcycles will be used for patrols and emergency response across Fort Valley Chief Flores noted that the city experienced 271 traffic accidents in 2023 He cited research showing that drivers tend to be more cautious when they see a police motorcycle on the road they become more alert and change their driving habits," said Flores the addition of motorcycles is also aimed at improving emergency response times Last year’s Fort Valley State University Homecoming exposed challenges in reaching people quickly prompting the department to seek a cost-effective solution "We saw challenges in getting to people in need quickly We had to find a cost-effective solution to improve response times especially in emergencies," Flores explained In addition to accident prevention and emergency response the motorcycles will also be used for escorts Flores noted that while the department currently has three motorcycles multiple officers are trained to operate them one of our officers is a certified police motorcycle instructor He trains and certifies other officers in motorcycle operations," Flores said Chief Flores also hinted that more new additions could be coming to the department in the near future GA – The Fort Valley Police Department is investigating a shooting with injury that occurred on Davis Street at Hosley Street Thursday afternoon officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3:40 p.m after reports of multiple gunshots in the area Witnesses stated they heard gunfire and saw a brown-colored vehicle speeding away from the scene Authorities determined that a male victim and his sister had traveled to Fort Valley to meet with an individual for an illegal narcotics transaction an unknown male suspect approached their vehicle opened fire toward both the suspect and her brother The male driver was struck at least three times during the exchange The vehicle then fled to a nearby medical center and the victim was later airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta for further treatment The Fort Valley Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is actively investigating the case Chief Flores urges anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (478) 825-3383 – Just weeks after rolling out new motorcycles to enhance their patrol capabilities the Fort Valley Police Department has introduced another major addition: mounted patrol officers on horseback officers are now patrolling on horseback—a move aimed not only at improving public safety but also strengthening community relations I don’t know anybody that hates horses," said Officer Steve Mitchell one of the first to join the new mounted unit the horses were leased through his Reserve Officers Program he emphasized that no taxpayer dollars were used in bringing the program to life When can residents expect to see mounted officers around town "As of today—today," Mitchell said confirming that the initiative is already underway Officer Mitchell explained that each officer will need about a week of specialized training to become fully prepared for mounted patrol duty the department already has three trained officers ready to ride who previously did training with the Atlanta Police Department brings valuable experience from Georgia’s largest mounted patrol unit "They told me what we needed to do to bomb-train them," he said “Bomb training means they get used to cars The mounted officers won’t be limited to neighborhood patrols Chief Flores says the horses will also be used at large city events providing extra visibility and mobility in crowded areas We have to understand the community’s needs this is just one of the strategies we’re implementing in the community," Flores said (WGXA) — The Fort Valley City Council has approved a new contract for City Administrator Gary Lee sparking heated debate among council members and residents over the salary and additional benefits Councilmember Juanita Bryant voiced her opposition during the meeting *"I’m going to oppose the amount of $150,000."* Council member Sandra Marshall revealed an additional detail in the contract increasing the total compensation package to $156,000 annually can I announce what else is in the contract?" Marshall asked "Go ahead," replied Mayor Jeffrey Lundy it’s actually $156,000 a year instead of $150,000 I just want everyone to know I’m against it," Marshall said Councilwoman Carla Gowen also objected to the contract "I just think that’s way too much money." Gary Lee who has been serving as interim city administrator will see his new contract retroactively take effect on January 1 includes an automatic renewal clause for two-year terms unless the council votes against renewal within 30 days of the anniversary date "The contract includes additional duties he’s been charged with." these added responsibilities raised concerns for residents who argued that the city charter outlines a more focused role for the city administrator "If they must devote all their time to the city administrator position there shouldn’t have been an attempt to have one person hold two authorities," Gosier said WGXA’s review of the city charter confirmed that its provisions align with Gosier’s concerns Despite the opposition from several council members and citizens Mayor Jeffrey Lundy announced the result of the vote: "To accept the contract Motion carries." WGXA reached out to Gary Lee for comment — Fort Valley State University (FVSU) officials broke ground today on a new apartment-style housing facility designed to support students pursuing health-related careers The facility will feature 32 beds and aims to provide a focused living environment for students in these fields the new housing is an important step in the university’s growth Our enrollment has been really great over the last three years One of the things we really needed to expand was our footprint in terms of housing," Hatchett said FVSU’s nursing program is relatively new but has seen strong interest from pre-nursing students looking to continue their education at the university Hatchett noted that while the project has been in the works for a year Hatchett explained that the project was supported by federal relief funds HERF funds that we received from the federal government," he said Student Government Association President and a graduating psychology major emphasized the importance of this investment in student housing "I hear a lot of concerns when it comes to housing so this new building will alleviate some of the stress that students face when trying to find housing and focus on their education," Humphries said She also believes the new facility will help attract more students to FVSU "It'll give students a reason to come to Fort Valley so having a new building specifically for those interested in health sciences will attract more students to the school," she added Hatchett revealed that this is just phase one of the project "We're starting with 32 beds and exploring the possibility of expanding upward—building additional floors on top of the existing structure to increase capacity here in Fort Valley," he said Humphries highlighted the significance of breaking ground on the project during Black History Month Fort Valley is celebrating 130 years of excellence and this just adds to that legacy," she said university officials have not announced a projected completion date for the new facility (WGXA) — Fort Valley Police Chief DJ Flores has been placed on two-year probation by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards Training Council (POST) citing ethics violations in his previous jobs in law enforcement POST outlines incidents while Flores was working for the Dublin Police Department (DPD) and the Centerville Police Department (CPD) where he violated policies and displayed unbecoming conduct Chief Flores faces three violations from that time period that led to his probation or fraudulent representations in the practice of being an officer or in any document connected therewith or practiced fraud or deceit or intentionally made any false statement in obtaining a certificate to practice as an officer; or deleterious conduct or practice harmful to the public; such conduct or practice need not have resulted in actual injury to any person the term “unprofessional conduct” shall include any departure from the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing practice of an officer; or any other lawful authority without regard to whether the violation is criminally punishable or regulation relates to or in part regulates the practice of an officer; While working as an officer for the Dublin Police Department POST said Flores received a disciplinary demotion from his role as Corporal and was reassigned to the Patrol Division on Sept The report describes an incident in which Flores left his patrol car at his home to make what he said was a forgotten appointment for his personal car on Sept Statements made by other officers corroborate his patrol car being at his home and verified he was clocked in that day at 12:05 p.m They said a DPD sergeant instructed them to monitor Flores's car and noted that his patrol car was first seen at his home at around 1:15 p.m. and he arrived back in his personal car to the house at 1:55 p.m POST said Flores did not make the correct adjustments to his timesheet Flores claimed he left his patrol car at his home due to an appointment for his personal car at an auto shop that he had forgotten about Flores said he tried to make the corrections to his timesheet so he reached out for assistance from HR in the meantime Another violation described by POST recalls a situation while Flores was working at the Centerville Police Department where he allegedly asked a subordinate officer for $3,500 "to pay some things off to purchase a home in Centerville" during a conversation about possibly getting the officer moved to the investigations division Chief Flores released a statement on Wednesday regarding the probation emphasizing his commitment to transparency in his career and dedication to serving the city of Fort Valley You can read Chief Flores's full statement below You can also read the full case summary completed by POST below the Boilermakers landed a commitment from former Fort Valley State (Division II) lineman Josh Burney He has one season of eligibility to use as a graduate transfer Burney is coming off a monster 2024 campaign at Fort Valley State (located in Georgia) 300-pound defensive lineman racked up 20 tackles Burney played in 28 career games and accounted for 50 tackles Purdue has now landed four defensive lineman from the transfer portal this spring the Boilers have also received commitments from Marcus Moore Jr Ian Jeffries (Arkansas State) and Breylon Charles (North Texas) the Boilers have been very active in the portal They have picked up more than 50 players via transfer assembling a roster to begin a new era of Purdue football HUDKINS TRANSFERS TO IOWA: Former Purdue defensive back Ty Hudkins is transferring to Iowa, he announced this week. He spent one season with the Boilers, playing in 12 games. CLICK HERE TWO DBS COMMIT TO PURDUE: Purdue added two more players via the transfer portal on Tuesday, landing defensive backs An'Darius Coffey (Memphis) and Traveon Wright (Mississippi State). CLICK HERE CORREA COMMITS TO PURDUE: Purdue picked up a transfer commitment from former UNLV linebacker Charles Correa. He spent one year in Las Vegas, playing under coach Barry Odom. CLICK HERE DUSTIN SCHUTTE Photo by: Jay LaPreteNo. 11 Ohio State Welcomes Fort Valley State This Weekend1/8/2025 2:15:00 PM | Men's Volleyball Teams will battle twice at the Covelli Center Receive the Latest News & Promotions (WGXA) — Councilwoman Juanita Plant Bryant was arrested during a city council meeting on Tuesday night according to the Fort Valley Police Department (FVPD) FVPD told WGXA’s Carlos Stephens that Bryant was arrested for violating Georgia code 16-11-34. "a person who recklessly or knowingly commits any act which may reasonably be expected to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or procession is guilty of a misdemeanor." The FVPD says Bryant was also released Tuesday night Ga (WGXA) - The City of Fort Valley celebrated its employees in grand style ahead of Christmas with a holiday luncheon filled with music But the highlight of the event came before the festivities as employees received $1,000 bonuses as a token of appreciation for their hard work “It was $1,000 per employee,” confirmed Mayor Jeffrey Lundy The third annual Christmas luncheon brought city workers together to enjoy games Mayor Lundy emphasized that the bonuses reflect the city’s gratitude for its employees’ dedication to serving the community we try to show them they are essential for the daily operations of the City of Fort Valley I hope they leave here knowing that the mayor and council genuinely care about their employees,” Lundy said including one employee who shared that the bonus highlights how much the city values its workforce “It just shows that the city cares about its employees,” the employee said according to the Atlanta Police Department (APD) According to a press release APD discovered a body on the 2000 block of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway in Northwest Atlanta with APD was canvassing the area after the Houston County Sheriff's Office notified them of a "possibly deceased person." Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed with WGXA that the body was Jackson's on Thursday Homicide detectives are working to determine what led up the incident (WGXA) - Former Fort Valley State basketball coach In a message to WGXA's Gloria Ruth Finney This came after WGXA went to interview Jackson's son and wife at a residence in Bonaire and were told to leave because investigators had "an important update," for the family shared with WGXA that his father's phone pinged in Atlanta [law enforcement] weren't able to give exact details," he said I was able to get into his Gmail just to pull up his location history and it shows his phone; his Gmail shared a social media post implying her brother was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound The post reading: "Why didn’t u just take the car & go why did u have to shoot & kill him he would have given you that car because material things never mattered to him" she shared another post further implying Jackson was murdered (WGXA) - The Houston County Sheriff's Office is searching for the missing former head coach of Fort Valley State's basketball team after finding his car abandoned on Monday Jackson told authorities she spoke with her husband on Sunday as he prepared to start working as an Uber Eats driver at the Buc-ee's on Russell Parkway in Fort Valley She says she did not hear from Jackson again until 2:15 a.m "do you know my social security number." Jackson called her husband multiple times with no answer Jackson's silver 2018 BMW 540i from the company and alerted authorities In a Facebook post Jackson's family shared a security photo that showed him last seen at a Dollar General in the Warner Robins or Macon area around 10:00 p.m IN YOUR COMMUNITY | Perry Police search for missing teenage girl Peach County Sheriff's Office contacted the Houston County Sheriff's Office to verify the location of Jackson's BMW on Monday around 5:00 p.m Deputies found the vehicle backed into a parking spot in front of an apartment on the 300 block of Ashwood Drive in Bonaire the vehicle was unlocked and deputies noticed the front area had "items scattered over the seat and floor." Deputies also found Mr Jackson's identification tag with his name and picture Jackson told Houston County deputies that it was unlike Samuel to leave the car messy When questioning those who live in the area deputies learned that residents and the property management had not seen the car before Jan Jackson's wife told deputies she last saw Mr he is about 6'3 " and weighs around 250 pounds According to Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Athletics Jackson became the head coach of FVSU's men's basketball team in 2011 and retired in 2018 This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about Jackson's location should contact the Houston County Sheriff's Office at (478) 542-2085 READ MORE | Firefighters investigate Bonaire house fire that left one dog dead, cause still unknown (WGXA) — A Fort Valley man faces life in prison after a jury found him guilty of molesting two children According to a release from the Office of District Attorney Anita Howard a Peach County Superior Court jury passed down the guilty verdicts against Deshawn Courtney Mathis Howard's office said the jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before reaching the verdict The charges against Mathis stem from multiple incidents between 2012 and 2013 involving two girls who were around five and six years old at the time Howard's office described how the prosecution presented testimony from the now-teenage girls who came forward about the incidents during a family therapy session in 2023 Even a third sister was able to corroborate their testimony with similar experiences Howard spoke more on the case following the verdict and praised the victims for their bravery Mathis is facing a maximum sentence of life plus 70 years in prison NEWS FOR YOU | Warner Robins woman fired after staying home due to icy roads; Law states it's legal (WGXA) — A 17-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a 45-year-old woman According to the office of District Attorney Anita Howard the guilty plea stems from an incident on Oct at the R&R Quik Stop in Fort Valley where Joseph Tye shot and killed Shalandra Hooten The shooting was caught on security footage at the store Howard's office said Hooten had just finished paying at the register and was punched by Tye's mother starting a physical altercation between the two women Tye pulled out a gun and shot Hooten at close range but Tye was arrested on the same day still in possession of the gun Howard spoke on the case following the guilty plea and sentencing “This tragic and dangerous incident left one person dead one child in prison and put community members at risk,” said Howard “Using firearms to resolve issues like this is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated in this jurisdiction This is a significant sentence for a 17-year-old over a situation that I believe could have been de-escalated we have a responsibility to serve as role models for peaceful resolution of conflict for our children and now a child will spend a significant part of his life behind bars.” Ms who was present at the plea and sentencing expressed her regret for the role her actions played in this tragic event." Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Fort Valley police are investigating a shooting that injured a 33-year-old man Tuesday night on Spruce Street According to Fort Valley Police Chief DJ Flores officers responded to the 100 block of Spruce Street around 5 p.m they found a 33-year-old man had been shot in the lower extremities He was taken to Atrium Health Navicent in Macon for treatment and is in stable condition The department’s criminal investigation section responded to the scene and has identified a male suspect in connection with the case Investigators are continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding the shooting “If anyone has information regarding this incident contact the Fort Valley Police Department,” Flores said GA (WGXA) – Fort Valley State University senior Kennedy McIntyre recently shared her excitement over a new partnership between FVSU and Imola Automotive USA a collaboration that could lead to thousands of new jobs and opportunities for students is planning to establish a new facility in Fort Valley which will provide significant opportunities for both FVSU students and the local community but I had to do some research because I hadn’t heard of the company,” McIntyre said which focuses on electric vehicle production plans to situate its new facility on Julius Simmons Avenue the new plant will make Fort Valley a hub for clean energy automotive manufacturing Many of the positions will only require a GED or high school diploma and will offer ample opportunities for training and career advancement says the partnership has raised her hopes for a successful future “Learning that two Black men are the CEO and COO of an automotive company—it’s inspiring Seeing their success makes me believe in my own potential.” This initiative is supported by FVSU’s Cooperative Development Energy Program (CDEP) and career pathways specifically designed for students pursuing STEM careers who plan to stay in Fort Valley after graduation the opportunities presented by this collaboration could be life-changing “These are not just well-paying jobs; they’re jobs that will keep students here Instead of moving to Atlanta after graduation they can stay in Fort Valley and contribute to the local economy,” McIntyre explained Director of the Cooperative Development Energy Program also underscored the importance of this partnership CDEP’s heartbeat is producing scientists and engineers,” Crumbly said Fort Valley City Council has unanimously approved the project giving Imola Automotive the green light to establish its facility Although the timeline for construction remains unclear Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – On a night already filled with pride and celebration Fort Valley State University added a historic milestone to its growing athletic legacy During Senior Night at the Health and Physical Education Complex the Wildcats honored their graduating student-athletes across multiple sports But the highlight of the evening came with the unveiling of a new Men’s Volleyball championship banner — commemorating the team’s first-ever regular season title Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship Fort Valley State became the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to compete in the NCAA Championship in Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Larry Wrather led the Wildcats to new heights this season and the team showed no signs of slowing down as they took on Edward Waters University in their final home match of the 2025 regular season The match began as a back-and-forth battle both the Wildcats and the visiting Tigers kept the score close Senior outside hitter Jaxon Hicks sparked Fort Valley’s momentum with a dominant performance Although the Wildcats narrowly dropped the first set they bounced back with three straight set victories to take the match 3-1 Fort Valley State (15-9) now turns its attention to the final game of the regular season set for Saturday on the road against EWU again before beginning postseason play in the SIAC Tournament officers from the Fort Valley Police Department were dispatched to the 700 block of Courtland Avenue following reports of a possible shooting officers spoke with the occupants of the residence including several high school-aged individuals they initially believed someone was attempting to kick in their door earlier in the day they later discovered that their home had been damaged by what appeared to be gunfire The Fort Valley Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and has since identified persons of interest The incident remains under active investigation Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the case to contact the Fort Valley Police Department Criminal Investigations Section (WGXA) — A deadly shooting in Fort Valley killed a 24-year-old man and left another injured on Monday afternoon according to Fort Valley Police Chief DJ Flores Fort Valley Police responded to the shooting just after 4:00 PM near the 600 block of Miller Street and Walden Street In an interview with WGXA's Carlos Stephens at the scene Chief Flores says a possible altercation between two groups led to gunfire TRENDING | Dooly State Prison inmate dead after altercation with another prisoner police discovered two people suffering from gunshot wounds now identified as 59-year-old Tyrone Williams Peach County Coroner Kerry Rooks later identified the deceased victim as 24-year-old Kerry Ross Jr and said his next of kin has been notified "Currently we are still investigating information and witnesses in the area," said Flores " We are continuing to talk to people to try to put this together." and Macon-Bibb District Attorney's Office are assisting in the investigation Chief Flores says authorities need the community's help and asks anyone with information to contact the Fort Valley Police Department at 478-825-3383 "Let's work together as one Fort Valley to try and stop this senseless violence," said Flores Ga (WGXA) - Chief of Police DJ Flores announced the arrest of a Fort Valley resident in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred early Saturday morning which involved a gunshot reportedly fired at an alleged intruder led to the death of a male victim and resulted in the arrest of 55-year-old Shawn Evans officers from the Fort Valley Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in the 400 Block of Pecan Avenue officers found a visibly distressed woman on the front lawn The woman claimed she had fired at a male intruder who was inside her residence Officers quickly assessed the situation and located the wounded male inside who had sustained at least one gunshot wound to his torso Emergency medical personnel from Peach County EMS arrived shortly afterward providing medical assistance and transporting the injured male to Atrium Health Navicent Medical Center in Macon The Fort Valley Criminal Investigation Division and Crime Scene Unit were on-site conducting an in-depth investigation Evans was arrested and charged with Murder and Discharging a Firearm while Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Evans was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Peach County Detention Center without further incident Chief Flores has stated that the investigation remains active Authorities urge anyone with relevant information regarding the incident to contact the Fort Valley Police Department as they continue to seek additional details on the case (WGXA) — A man was injured after a shooting at an apartment complex in Fort Valley According to the Fort Valley Police Department (FVPD) it happened at the Magnolia Terrace apartments at around 7:15 p.m FVPD said a man in his early 30s suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was sent to the Peach County Hospital for treatment FVPD added that a suspect of interest was identified but the investigation remains ongoing Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A man was airlifted from a hospital in Fort Valley on Thursday after being shot multiple times by his sister officers responded to Davis Street at Hosley Street in reference to a shooting He says after the preliminary investigation a man and his sister drove to Fort Valley to meet with a person attempting to purchase illegal narcotics an unknown person approached the vehicle the brother and his sister were in and pointed a firearm towards brother and attempted to rob him Chief Flores says that’s when the sister began shooting in the direction of the unknown person and her brother striking her brother at least three times by gunfire The vehicle then sped off to a nearby hospital and the brother was later airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta Chief Flores is asking if anyone has information regarding this incident contact the Fort Valley Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (478)825-3383 Stay with 41NBC for more updates on this story as they become available Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – For the second straight year Fort Valley State University is headed to the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship — and once again The Wildcats claimed their second consecutive SIAC title Wednesday afternoon defeating Edward Waters 3-1 in front of a home crowd The win not only secures FVSU’s place in the national tournament but further cements its legacy as the first HBCU to ever make the NCAA men’s volleyball field It was a rematch of last week’s Senior Day contest which also saw the Wildcats come out on top the stakes were even higher — a conference title and a postseason berth on the line responded with a hard-fought 25-23 win in the second after FVSU mounted a comeback to tie it at 23 taking the third set 25-16 and closing out the championship with a 25-21 fourth set win senior Jaxon Hicks was hoisted by his teammates and the tournament’s MVP was named: senior outside hitter Oshane Farquharson 12 digs and 69 assists in the two games of the tournament “It honestly caught me off guard,” Farquharson said “Usually it’s the person with the most kills I’m just grateful for the group of guys I’m working with — I wouldn’t be in this position without them.” Head coach Larry Wrather praised his team’s composure and perseverance especially given the pressure of defending their title and making another NCAA run knowing now our place in the NCAA Tournament is punched,” Wrather said “These young men stayed consistent and did what champions do who brought in 12 or 13 new players after graduating 10 last season emphasized the cultural impact of the team’s success especially after being the first HBCU team to make the NCAA Championships – now twice “Seeing a group of young Black men — for the majority — playing a predominantly Caucasian sport it lets other young men of color know: I can do anything,” he said Wildcats junior Taviian Martin added to coaches statement ‘I didn’t even know I could play volleyball.’ That brings a tear to your eye.” “I was the only person of color on my high school team — and I’m mixed So it wasn’t even a dream so much as just a shared vision,” he said the lead kill scorer in the championship game reflects on the moment being memorizing “This is something you tell your grand kids — like I went to the national championship.’ You realize you’re living in the moment the Wildcats shift focus to the NCAA Tournament where they plan to bring the same energy that’s fueled their historic run “We’re going to come in with confidence,” Fedd said The NCAA Championship begins May 8th in Columbus — It’s homecoming at Fort Valley State University and as the Wildcats get ready to cheer for a "W" on the football field Miss Fort Valley State University has already brought home a big win Naya Floyd took home the crown and sash after competing against about a dozen other HBCU queens for the Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame 2024 title really shined in the oratory," Nya said Floyd delivered a three-minute speech about the importance of voting in the Black community cleverly ending the presentation in the same way many politicians close out TV ads The 87th Miss Fort Valley State University.. Her first-place win is Fort Valley‘s first in the pageant’s 39-year history Last year's queen Anaya Arnold placed in the top five Rodney was just like 'ok we were so close last year we've got to bring it home'," Nya recalled bringing the crowd to its feet and tears to her eyes Transitioning from a high school wrestler who typically competed against young boys Nya says the pageant was less about competition it was a time to bond with her peers or "sister queens" across the HBCU spectrum Nya says mentorship brought her to a Historically Black University and what's shaped many of the decisions she's made since stepping onto campus That's why "Game Plan: Graceful and Authentic Mentorship with Endless Support" is her platform as the university's 87th Miss FVSU "I just think that mentorship plays a big part in our overall success so we can mold them into the leaders that we need them to be in the future," she said Nya is one of "THEE" Fort Valley's leaders She says even though her tattoos and tom-boy background may not seem like the qualities of a queen Nya hopes she's the representation of other girls that she didn't get to see.