In the quiet Oakfield Drive subdivision just north of Statesboro, Georgia, the evening of June 10, 2024, was shattered by violence. Inside his home, Tony Lamar Connely, a 58-year-old Black male, was fatally shot multiple times following what authorities described as an escalating domestic argument. The alleged shooter was identified by a family member at the scene as his own son, 24-year-old Brandon Lavon Connely.
The incident unfolded around 7:20 p.m., prompting a frantic 911 call from
a neighbor. Tony Connely's wife had fled their home, desperately screaming that her husband had been shot. When deputies from the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office arrived, they discovered Tony Connely deceased on the floor, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
While law enforcement secured the residence and began their investigation, a search was launched for Brandon Connely, who had left the area. The search involved a coordinated effort between the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia State Patrol, and the Statesboro Police Department. The 9mm handgun believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered at the home. Shortly after 8:00 p.m., Brandon Connely drove his vehicle to the parking lot of the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office and surrendered to the authorities waiting there.
Following his surrender, Brandon Connely was taken into custody and charged with a string of serious offenses, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with intent to commit murder, and aggravated battery. He also faced four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Authorities noted that this was not Brandon's first encounter with law enforcement regarding domestic issues, citing a history of arrests related to family violence, including incidents in 2018 and 2021. The Sheriff's Office had been called to the Connely residence on previous occasions over the years due to domestic disputes. The culmination of this ongoing conflict tragically led to the death of Tony Connely.
