In the early morning hours of June 23, 2022, the life of 52-year-old Lisa Blanton was tragically cut short in a violent encounter at the Vineyard Village Apartments in Griffin, Georgia. Responding to a call about a person shot at approximately 2:51 a.m., Griffin Police officers arrived at the apartment on Highway 16 West to a grim scene. Inside, they discovered Blanton, who had sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Also found in the residence was 53-year-old James Riley Williams III, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen and extremities. Despite his serious injuries, he was conscious and able to communicate with the officers before being transported to Atlanta Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.
The investigation into the shooting quickly focused on a third individual present in the apartment: James Riley Williams IV, the 26-year-old son of the wounded man. Initially, the younger Williams was taken into custody for possession of marijuana and a handgun found at the scene. However, as the investigation progressed, authorities identified him as the shooter responsible for both his father's injuries and Lisa Blanton's death.
James Riley Williams IV was subsequently arrested and faced charges of malice murder and additional weapons offenses. He was booked into the Spalding County jail. While law enforcement officials indicated that the shooting appeared to be a domestic-related incident, the specific nature of the relationship between Lisa Blanton and the suspect was not publicly clarified, with one report stating there was no known relationship between them. The motive for the tragic event also remained under investigation as authorities continued to piece together the circumstances that led to the deadly shooting.
