In the early morning hours of November 7, 2021, the life of Marquel Tarber, a 31-year-old Black male from Millen, was cut short by gunfire. Police responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment on Dowell Avenue in Waynesboro, Georgia. Upon arrival, they discovered Tarber, also known as 'Bean,' lying deceased in the front yard near the steps of the apartment. The incident was not a simple act of violence but a shootout that left others injured and set in motion a lengthy legal process.
The investigation into the Dowell Avenue shootout led Waynesboro Police to identify two main suspects: Johnathan 'Dip' Hughes and Jason Cuyler. Hughes sustained life-threatening injuries during the exchange of gunfire, while Cuyler suffered minor wounds. A third individual, Kenneth Eason, also had minor injuries but was not charged in connection with the fatal event. Investigators pieced together the chaotic scene and subsequently brought serious charges against both Hughes and Cuyler, beginning the quest for justice for Marquel Tarber.
Johnathan Terrell Hughes was indicted by a grand jury in January 2022 on charges including malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault. After his arrest, he was later released on bond, a period during which he was arrested again on an unrelated disorderly conduct charge. In August 2024, Hughes appeared in a Burke County courtroom and accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. For these crimes, he was sentenced to three years of confinement followed by 17 years of probation, with an additional five years of probation for the firearm charge.
Jason Cuyler faced his own set of charges related to the deadly encounter. He was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. In July 2025, a sentence was handed down for his role in the shooting death of Marquel Tarber. Cuyler received a 30-year sentence, with the first 10 years to be served in prison and the subsequent 20 years on probation, closing another chapter in the tragic case.
