In the late morning of December 17, 2024, the sound of gunfire shattered the calm on Fern Street in Thomasville, Georgia. When police officers arrived at 113 Fern Street around 11:53 a.m., they found 25-year-old Edward Payne Haygood, an African American male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics rushed him to Archbold Memorial Hospital, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he died later that day.
The investigation into the shooting was a collaborative effort involving the Thomasville Police Department, the Thomas County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Boston Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol. Their work quickly led them to a suspect: 15-year-old Larry Thompson III. By 10:50 p.m. that same evening, Thompson was arrested without incident in the 300 block of Fern Street, not far from where the shooting had occurred.
Thompson was subsequently charged with a string of serious offenses, including felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was detained at a Regional Youth Detention Center. During his initial court appearance, the judge denied bond.
Edward, known to many as 'Eddie,' was born on June 17, 1999. His obituary described him as a respectful and helpful person who was known for his goofy and vibrant personality. It also revealed that he had overcome significant health challenges in his life, having been diagnosed with epilepsy as a child and having taught himself to walk again after a previous shooting incident had left him paralyzed. The investigation into his death is ongoing.
