In the spring of 2022, the life of 15-year-old Tavias Doogie La’zhae Williams, an African American male from Macon, Georgia, was tragically cut short. On the evening of April 26, 2022, a shooting incident unfolded in the parking lot of an Academy Sports on Eisenhower Parkway. When law enforcement arrived, they discovered the teenager had sustained a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services transported Williams to Atrium Health Navicent.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office immediately launched a homicide investigation into the fatal shooting that had claimed the young man's life.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect. In collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office apprehended 20-year-old Tajiri Antwaun Harris of Macon at his residence. Harris was subsequently charged with one count of murder and three counts of aggravated assault in connection with the death of Tavias Williams. Following his arrest, Harris was taken into custody and held without bond.
The community mourned the loss of the teenager. Funeral services for Tavias 'Doogie' Williams were held on May 14, 2022, at Williams Chapel CME Church in Jeffersonville, Georgia. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing, as authorities continue to seek information from the public.
