In the small city of Millen, Georgia, a dispute on Corbett Street on April 22, 2024, tragically cut short the life of Robert Lamar Herrington, a 39-year-old African American man. An argument earlier in the day is believed to have simmered and then boiled over into a violent exchange of gunfire. When Millen Police officers arrived at the scene following a 911 call, they discovered Herrington suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to probe the shooting. Their preliminary findings suggested that Herrington and another man were involved in the altercation that led to both being shot. The second man was also taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to a more advanced facility in Augusta, where he was listed in stable condition. To determine the precise cause and manner of death, Herrington's body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy. Known affectionately to friends and family as “Lil Red Dog,” Herrington was born in Richmond County and had attended Jenkins County schools. He worked in home construction and remodeling and was a loving father.
As the investigation progressed, a suspect was identified in connection with Herrington's death. In June 2024, a Jenkins County Grand Jury handed down an indictment for Jessie Ward. The charges against Ward are severe, including malice murder, two counts of felony murder, and aggravated assault. Further compounding his legal troubles, Ward also faces charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The case against him is set to proceed through the Ogeechee Circuit District Attorney's Office, marking the next chapter in the quest for justice for Robert Lamar Herrington.
