In the small city of Camilla, Georgia, a tragic series of events unfolded in the fall of 2024, culminating in the death of 17-year-old Kelvin Church. On the afternoon of October 30, 2024, Church was shot at the intersection of Furlow and Jester Streets. He was transported to a local hospital and later died from his injuries on November 5, with his mother by his side.
The investigation into the shooting, led by the Camilla Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, quickly pointed to a suspect. An extensive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office, was launched to find 19-year-old Terryon Maleek Martin of Pelham, Georgia.
On December 3, 2024, authorities located Martin at a residence on Back Nine Road in Pelham. In a strange turn of events, he was discovered concealed inside a kitchen cabinet that had been screwed shut. Martin was taken into custody without further incident. Also arrested was his 39-year-old father, Terry Phillip Martin, who was charged with hindering the apprehension of a fugitive.
Terryon Maleek Martin faces multiple charges, including Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During a Felony. Both he and his father were booked into the Mitchell County Jail. The investigation into the motive for the shooting remains ongoing, and upon its completion, the case will be handed over to the South Georgia Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed at the GBI Crime Lab.
