In the summer of 2015, a quiet evening in Macon, Georgia, was shattered by a senseless act of violence that claimed the life of 55-year-old William Ford. On the night of June 6th, Ford and a female friend were parked on Highland Avenue, having just dropped off some food. As they sat in the car, a man, later identified as Andre Lucas, approached and asked for a cigarette. When they replied that they did not smoke, Lucas walked away, only to return moments later.
Despite Ford's request for him to leave, Lucas brandished a gun and shot Ford in the neck.
Ford was rushed to a local hospital, where he clung to life for over two weeks. Despite his difficulty speaking, he was able to provide a detective with an account of the unprovoked attack. Tragically, William Ford succumbed to his injuries on June 22, 2015. His death was ruled a homicide due to complications from the gunshot wound.
The investigation into the shooting led Bibb County deputies to Andre Lucas, who was identified by both Ford and his friend from a line-up. Lucas was arrested on June 10, 2015, initially facing charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery. Following Ford's death, the charges were upgraded to murder. Investigators also discovered that Lucas had sustained a gunshot wound to his thumb during the incident.
In March 2018, Andre Lucas, then 41, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. By accepting the plea, he avoided a trial on the murder charge. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the death of William Ford.
