In the early hours of Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, the sounds of a lively birthday block party in Ocilla, Georgia, were tragically silenced by gunfire. Marquavious Da’shawn Westbrook, a 19-year-old Black male from Ocilla, was fatally wounded in the incident. The celebration, which had drawn a crowd of over 100 people to the intersection of East 10th Street and North McKinley Street, descended into chaos just before 1:00 a.m. as multiple shots were fired.
When Ocilla police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a harrowing sight with several individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services were called, and the victims, including Westbrook, were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Marquavious Westbrook succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to lead the inquiry into the deadly shooting.
In the days that followed the tragic event, the investigation progressed, leading to a significant development in the case. On Wednesday, April 14, 2026, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested 24-year-old Cleveland Lewis Pettiford of Fitzgerald, Georgia. Pettiford was subsequently charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting that claimed the life of Marquavious Westbrook and injured others. Following his arrest, Pettiford was booked into the Irwin County Jail as the investigation into the fatal block party shooting continued.
