MACON, Ga. — After a shooting in downtown Macon left a bullet hole the window of a popular downtown bar, the owner reached out to 13WMAZ to express his frustration.
It's the second window JBA has to replace less than two weeks into the new year, Brandon Lawler said — but that's not why he's upset.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office originally sent out a press release saying a shooting happened at Lawler's bar Saturday night, but Lawler said that was wrong.
"A domestic altercation next door spilled outside," Lawler said.
The original press release, however, said that it happened among JBA patrons. Later, after Lawler disputed those details, the sheriff's office said the shooting happened during an 11-year-old's birthday party nextdoor.
The party was happening inside a private venue at a business next to Lawler's bar, he said.
Lawler said Washington, the suspect held without bond, pulled out a gun when he was outside.
"It escalated to pulling a gun and shooting towards, I guess the group that he was with, or that he was having an argument with, and one of those shots went through our window and into our building," Lawler continued.
One bullet made its way through the far right window of JBA, putting a hole in the wall of the bar through a poster of a bulldog.
"This had really nothing to do with downtown, which is even more frustrating," Lawler said.
The bar owner said he realized something was wrong after he saw people running inside his bar away from the front door.
That's when, Lawler said, he saw the bullet hole in the wall.
He said he's kept in touch with his neighbors about what happened but doesn't understand why BSO reported the shooting happened at his bar.
"It was just that BSO, in my opinion, was being very neglectful and, for whatever reason, attaching us to the story, not as a geographical point, but we have a hole in window, so it must have been us, and we had to do something with this," Lawler said. "That's where the frustration came from."
He said he usually notices a handful of officers sit on the corner of Third Street and Cherry Street at night.
Lawler said he thinks the shooting could have been avoided had there been more officers patrolling the Cherry Street nightlife.
"Where were y'all?" he asked. "Here's eight bars in this corner. Why are you up there when there's nothing up there?"
Maconite Eric Meridith also spent his whole life in the heart of Georgia.
He said he feels safe in downtown because he sees officers patrolling the area.
Meridith agrees more manpower on the streets would benefit everybody.
"It would definitely deter some of the crime here that's going on," Meridith said.
"Our livelihoods are based on the safety and image of downtown," Lawler said. "People come downtown, they feel safe. If they don't feel safe they don't come downtown, so businesses suffer."
Anyone with information in reference to this incident is asked to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
According to the original press release:
Arrests made in connection with Aggravated Assault Investigation at JBA
Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Deputies in assistance with Georgia State Patrol makes an arrest in connection with an aggravated assault incident that occurred at JBA, located at 425 Cherry Street downtown.
The incident occurred on January 13, 2024, at 10:25 p.m., Saturday night. After a heated verbal and physical altercation amongst patrons outside of JBA, shots were fired. The establishment had been struck by the gunfire causing damage to a window. No witnesses nor patrons inside or outside of JBA was harmed. The suspect fled the area but was apprehended shortly afterwards. The firearm was recovered.
The suspect was identified as fifty-five-year-old Darrell Bernard Washington of Macon. Washington was transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Darrell Bernard Washington was charged with Aggravated Assault, Reckless Conduct, First Degree Criminal Damage to Property, First Degree Cruelty to Children, and Battery. He currently does not have a bond."
After 13WMAZ's report, a business neighboring Lawler's bar, Vibez, posted a statement on its Facebook page:
"We recently hosted a private event celebrating the life of a former employee. An unexpected conflict happened between a few people that attended. This was a very unfortunate situation.
However, Vibez will not condone violence of any kind. All parties involved in any altercation on our premises will be banned and criminally charged. We would like to thank our loyal customers for your continuous support.
Businesses downtown are already under extreme pressure, due to previous issues related to safety. This puts us as risk of being negatively impacted and in some cases shut down. We cannot let the actions of a few people impact the experience we provide to Macon and Middle Georgia. Let's work together to keep downtown fun and safe for everyone!"