In the quiet landscape of Bulloch County, Georgia, a fatal encounter unfolded on the night of October 27, 2020. Ray Clifford “Buddy” Beasley Jr., a 36-year-old male, was shot and killed at the intersection of Rock Ford and Mixon roads. Deputies who arrived at the scene found Beasley deceased from a gunshot wound. The man responsible, 35-year-old Dustin Leigh Cowart, was also present and was taken into custody without incident.
The investigation that followed revealed a meeting
between the two men was arranged to discuss Beasley's relationship with Cowart's ex-wife. This discussion tragically escalated, leading to the deadly shooting. Authorities confirmed that Beasley was unarmed during the confrontation. Cowart, a former deputy with the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, was arrested and transported to the county jail.
Following the investigation, Dustin Leigh Cowart was charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was held in the Bulloch County Jail without bond awaiting further court proceedings. The case eventually went to trial, where prosecutors presented evidence, including text messages that suggested premeditation. After hearing the evidence, a jury found Cowart guilty on all counts in the shooting death of Ray Clifford Beasley Jr.
