In the early morning hours of the day after Thanksgiving, a scene of celebration turned to tragedy in Sandersville, Georgia. On November 24, 2023, Thomas Womble Jr., a 32-year-old man from the nearby town of Sparta, was fatally shot. The incident unfolded at the Twin Cities Plaza Shopping Center on South Harris Street, where two separate parties had been taking place at event centers within the plaza.
As the festivities wound down around 1:30 a.m., altercations began to erupt among the estimated 500 attendees. Officers from the Sandersville Police Department and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office were already on the scene, working to disperse the crowd and quell the disturbances. It was amidst this chaotic backdrop that the sound of gunshots rang out, creating further panic and confusion.
When the immediate danger subsided, law enforcement officers discovered Thomas Womble Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel provided aid at the scene before he was transported by ambulance to Washington County Regional Medical Center. Despite their efforts, Womble succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was subsequently called in to assist with the homicide investigation.
In the hours that followed the shooting, authorities launched a manhunt for the individual believed to be responsible. Later that day, 27-year-old Xzavious Wicker of Sandersville turned himself in to law enforcement at the Washington County Jail. Wicker was arrested and faced a series of charges in connection with the death of Thomas Womble Jr., including felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. He is currently being held at the Washington County Jail as the investigation into the early morning violence continues.
