In the early morning hours of March 9, 2017, the life of Edward McKellar, a 43-year-old man from Macon County, Georgia, was tragically cut short in a Warner Robins home. McKellar, known to many as the beloved pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Andersonville, was a married father of six who also worked for a trucking company and the Department of Transportation.
His death, which was later described by investigators as accidental, sent ripples of shock and grief through the communities that knew him.
Warner Robins police officers responded to a call and upon arrival at the residence, they discovered McKellar with a fatal gunshot wound. The investigation that followed revealed a scene of horseplay that had taken a devastating turn. It was determined that three men, including McKellar, had been handling a firearm they mistakenly believed to be unloaded. Authorities have suggested that alcohol was a contributing factor in the unfortunate incident.
In the wake of the shooting, two individuals were taken into custody and faced charges related to McKellar's death. Jermarcus Dwayne Duncan, who was 22 years old at the time, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. The second man, 34-year-old Reginald Haulcombe Taylor, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence. The tragic event served as a somber reminder of the potential consequences when firearms and alcohol are mixed, leaving a family to mourn the loss of a husband and father, and a congregation to grieve for their pastor.
