In the summer of 2023, a young Black man, Eric Payton Thomas Jr., 21, was found dead in his vehicle in Macon, Georgia. The discovery was made just before 8 p.m. on Friday, June 16, in a parking lot located at 2241 Montpelier Avenue. Emergency services were called to the scene, where Thomas was found to have sustained a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the deputy coroner.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office immediately launched a homicide investigation into the
death of Thomas. Their efforts led to the identification of two suspects. The first arrest was made just days after the incident, on June 20, 2023, when 17-year-old Marcello Morvon Williams was taken into custody and charged with murder. Williams was subsequently jailed without bond.
Further investigation led to a second arrest months later. On September 6, 2023, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office apprehended 18-year-old Darrell Lester Wilson III. Wilson was also charged with the murder of Eric Payton Thomas Jr. At the time of his arrest, Wilson had several other outstanding warrants in Bibb County, including charges for possession of a firearm by a person under 18 and multiple counts of receiving stolen property. Like Williams, Wilson was denied bond and remains in custody. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Thomas's death is ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward.
