FORT VALLEY, Ga. — On Saturday around 2:20 a.m. Fort Valley Police said they were called to Pecan Avenue about the shooting of a possible intruder.
After further investigation, they charged the alleged shooter, Shawn Evans, with murder and using a firearm under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Neighbors described Pecan Avenue as the kind of place that's pretty quiet.
"Definitely was devastating to see that that had you know, happened," Jakari Schofield said, who lives next door to Evans.
He said Evans moved in the house next door about a year ago, and they got close after seeing each other every day. He said she moved to Georgia from out-of-state and kept busy fixing up her house.
"She was a terrific lady, she stayed to herself, didn't really get out much," Schofield said.
He said between late Friday night and early Saturday morning, he saw Evans hosting a gathering at her backyard firepit. She had invited another neighbor, and that neighbor's cousin, Quinton Owens, who police said was shot at least once in the torso-area.
"And he was coming down visiting out of town. So for them to just meet that night, for, for something to happen like that... and then you know, they say she was- he was an intruder, but I don't know how he was an intruder if they were invited over there," Schofield said.
He said he's still very confused about what happened. Police said when they arrived, Evans was crying and laying on the front lawn by a firearm.
"We're seeking justice for Mr. Owens cause at this point, it should never get to the point where you pull a gun out on anybody if y'all one-on-one with each other," Schofield said.
He said in the past, he's seen Evans intoxicated many times, and even had to help her from the yard into the house before when she was too intoxicated.
We did speak with Owens' family members who were not ready to be quoted, but shared they will always remember him as extremely funny, loving, kind, and a family-orientated man.
The Fort Valley Police Department are investigating, and ask that anyone with information call them at 478-825-3383.
MORE THAN A NUMBER
RELATED: More Than A Number: Family Form
More Than A Number is a Poynter-Stand Together award-winning project by Justin Baxley designed to help families of loved ones impacted by tragedy and trauma interact with journalists in a less intrusive way. Families are able to fill out a form about their family and also receive an in-depth guide on the next steps.
More Than A Number officially launched last August with a streaming special available on 13WMAZ+ for on-demand streaming. For any questions or concerns about More Than A Number, contact us here at the following email: MoreThanANumber@13wmaz.com