In the wake of a chaotic and violent night in East Macon, 21-year-old Brandon Thomas, a Black male, lost his life in a hail of gunfire that also claimed the lives of his 27-year-old brother, Quentarius Townsen, and 16-year-old Markeel Bonner Jr. The triple homicide that cut these three young lives short unfolded on the evening of October 18, 2025, leaving a neighborhood scarred and a community searching for answers.
The initial call to authorities came not from the scene of the shootout,
but from a local hospital where a silver sedan had arrived in the emergency room. Inside the car was Quentarius Townsen, who had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The driver, a woman wearing a black ski mask, was later identified as 21-year-old Ricky Maya Henley. After hospital security removed two assault rifles from the passenger's lap, Henley fled the scene, abandoning the car a short time later.
About thirty minutes after the first report, Bibb County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 500 block of Williams Street. There, they discovered the bodies of Brandon Thomas and Markeel Bonner Jr. Both had been shot and were pronounced dead at the scene by the chief deputy coroner. The street was littered with nearly 60 shell casings, a stark testament to the intensity of the violence that had erupted. Investigators also recovered an AK-47 and a handgun at the location.
In the days that followed, the investigation led to the arrest of Ricky Maya Henley. She was charged with three counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. Authorities have indicated that they believe Henley did not act alone and that the search for additional shooters is ongoing. While one arrest has been made, the full scope of the events that led to the tragic deaths of Brandon Thomas, his brother, and a teenage friend remains under active investigation as law enforcement continues to pursue all individuals involved.
