Gun crime indictments aplenty around the courthouse in Milledgeville

A Baldwin County grand jury recently indicted a myriad of suspects, including three men accused of unloading more than 60 rounds in the direction of an apartment in the Wray Homes/West End projects, where nine adults and four children were either outside in the yard or inside of the apartment. Multiple AR-15 rifle rounds were collected for evidence.

Keymon Lacarl Johnson, pictured at top left, Tyler Lamont Pounds, pictured on the top row and second from left, as well as Travis Terrell Simmons, pictured on the top row and third from left, each was indicted on nine counts of aggravated assault, as well as one count each of fleeing/attempting to elude, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by first offender probationer. The men originally were charged with four counts of third degree cruelty to children, one for each of the the children at the residence, but those charges were not reflected in the indictment.

The incident occurred on the first Friday of October. Det. Nick Reonas with the Milledgeville Police Department was patrolling the projects that night and responded to the gunfire. Reonas technically wasn't on-duty with the MPD, but rather was working a security detail with the Milledgeville Housing Authority. The Housing Authority contracts with the MPD to provide security for Wray Homes and Graham Homes. MPD officers and detectives working the detail still use MPD patrol cars, however. 

A high-speed chase then ensued, which culminated at Central City/Bonner Park, where one suspect was found hiding in a restroom by the basketball courts and another in the bushes. A third suspect, meanwhile, was tackled by a law enforcement officer, while a fourth suspect managed to get away.

Simmons was out on bond during the incident and "had 40 years remaining on an existing sentence," according to Milledgeville Police Department Chief Dray Swicord. Swicord said that he was "extremely glad to have Travis Simmons off the streets," adding that "he's responsible for probably 75-80 percent of the shootings and gun violence we've had lately" and "it's safe to say that Travis Simmons will probably never see the light of day again.

Meanwhile, a man was indicted in the murder of his girlfriend stemming from a September incident in the Capitol Homes mobile home neighborhood off of Ga. 49. Reco Antwan Stephens, pictured on the top row and at far right, was charged with two counts each of felony murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, as well as one count each of malice murder and aggravated assault.

The victim was identified as Shani Ronashia King, 23. Following the shooting incident, Stephens drove King to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. 

Maj. Brad King with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office referred to the incident as "domestic in nature." The shooting took place inside of King's mobile home, he added.

"Due to crime scene evidence, as well as our interviews with (Stephens), we felt strongly that we had enough to charge him with murder," King said.

Also, the disgruntled Taco Bell employee accused of shooting out the drive-thru window and in the direction of his manager also was indicted earlier this month. Jamarcus Tyshawn Waller, pictured on the bottom row and far left, was indicted on three counts of aggravated assault, as well as one count each of second degree criminal damage to property and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Officers responded to the Taco Bell shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday, July 24. The victim/manager was interviewed by officers. According to the incident report narrative: "(The manager) stated she was in the drive through area counting a cash register down. (The manager) stated she heard 3-4 shots get fired so she looked around out the window and it splintered her in her face."

The following afternoon, the manager walked into the Milledgeville Police Department headquarters on Floyd L. Griffin Street with new information. The manager showed officers a series of texts from Waller, who was one of her employees. One of the text messages from Waller read "I was the one that did that," according to the incident report.

In further texts, Waller indicated that he was upset with the manager. After the manager texted Waller and asked "why the (expletive) u shot at me," Waller replied "cause you pissed me tf off and (another employee) lied on me and you believed that (expletive)." Waller had no previous jail history at the Baldwin County jail. He was arrested without incident in the Boddie projects.

Meanwhile, Decapreon Bonnell Barnes, pictured on the bottom row and at right, and Demario Markell Gibson, not pictured, each was indicted on seven counts of aggravated assault and one count of of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The indictments stem from an April shooting in the Milledgeville Manor, where shell casings were collected all the way from the K building to the O building.

The incident happened during the middle of the day. Two vehicles and an apartment sustained damage, although no one was struck.