In the quiet pre-dawn hours of January 9, 2020, the life of Chance Jammal Kelley, a 19-year-old male, was violently extinguished in his hometown of Thomasville, Georgia. A United States Marine, Kelley was discovered deceased from multiple gunshot wounds under the Madison Street bridge. The profound tragedy of his death was compounded by the fact that he had returned home to attend the funeral of his great-grandmother.
The Thomasville Police Department was alerted to the sound of gunshots in the vicinity of the Madison Street bridge at approximately 4:45 a.m. following a 911 call. Witnesses who heard the shots reported seeing a body lying on Madison Alley shortly thereafter. Responding officers and detectives from both the Thomasville Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation initiated a homicide investigation, beginning their work at the crime scene at 5 a.m. It was soon discovered that Kelley's 2014 Honda Civic had been stolen. The vehicle was located later that afternoon on Georgia Avenue.
In the immediate aftermath of the discovery, law enforcement officials began their appeal to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward. The police chief sought to reassure the community that they believed it to be an isolated incident and that all available resources would be dedicated to solving the crime and apprehending the person or persons responsible. As of the latest available information, there have been no publicly announced arrests, and no suspects have been named in the ongoing investigation into the death of Chance Kelley.
