In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 28, 2024, a block party on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Hawkinsville, Georgia, turned tragic. Amidst the large crowd, 17-year-old Levarius Ke’Shay Madrad Ates, a male from the nearby city of Eastman, was found by Pulaski County Sheriff's deputies suffering from a gunshot wound around 1:15 a.m.
Emergency services transported the teenager to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Ates succumbed to his injuries the following day, on July 29, 2024. The incident prompted an immediate investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation which took the lead at the request of the local sheriff's office.
As of the initial reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the fatal shooting, and authorities have not publicly identified any suspects. The GBI has described the investigation as active and ongoing. They are urging anyone who was present at the large block party and may have information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting to come forward. Investigators have made a public plea for tips, which can be submitted anonymously, as they work to piece together the events that led to the teenager's untimely death. The case will be handed over to the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review once the GBI's investigation is complete.
