In the early morning hours of February 4, 2025, a fatal encounter unfolded on Warner Road in Barnesville, Georgia, leading to the death of 55-year-old Willie Floyd Perdue. The incident began around 1:00 a.m. when Jacob Benjamin Craft, 42, was reportedly driving erratically in the neighborhood where Perdue resided. Perdue went outside to confront Craft about his driving, which resulted in a brief but violent altercation.
During the confrontation, Craft allegedly exited his vehicle and shot Perdue multiple times. Lamar County 911 received two calls reporting the shooting, and deputies were dispatched to the scene. First responders found Perdue with multiple gunshot wounds. He was initially transported to Upson Regional Hospital and later transferred to Atrium Navient in Macon, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead just before 5 a.m.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to lead the investigation at the request of the Lamar County Sheriff's Office. Following an initial investigation at the scene, Jacob Benjamin Craft was arrested and taken into custody. He has since been charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. Craft is currently being held at the Lamar County Jail. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
