A wave of violence on a July afternoon in Union City, Georgia, left two men dead, including Cortez Raymond Miliam. The series of shootings unfolded on July 10, 2020, shaking the local community. Miliam was the first victim in the string of violent events that transpired that day.
The initial shooting occurred at an Exxon gas station located at 6687 Roosevelt Highway. Police were called to the scene around 3:30 p.m. and discovered Cortez Miliam, who had sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement began searching for individuals who might have information about the shooting. Union City Police publicly announced they were seeking Marcus 'Blue' Bowles for questioning in connection with Miliam's death, although he was not officially named as a suspect at that time.
Shortly after the incident that claimed Miliam's life, another shooting took place nearby at the intersection of Lee Street and Roosevelt Highway at approximately 3:46 p.m. In this second act of violence, two more individuals were shot. One of the victims, later identified as Byron Davis, was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The other victim was reported to be in critical condition.
In connection with the second shooting, authorities identified two persons of interest: Calvin Woodard and his cousin, Xavier Woodard. A breakthrough in the case came on September 2, 2020, when Calvin Woodard was apprehended by state troopers following a vehicle pursuit on I-285. During the chase, Woodard reportedly discarded a handgun and suspected narcotics from his vehicle. Following his capture, he was turned over to the Union City Police Department. While Calvin Woodard was taken into custody, the status of Marcus 'Blue' Bowles and Xavier Woodard, who were also sought for questioning in the separate shootings, remains publicly unresolved as no information regarding their arrests has been released. The investigation into the turbulent events of that day continues.
