MACON, Ga. — There have been at least seven homicides on one stretch of Houston Avenue since 2020.
Once again, gun violence hit the south Macon neighborhood overnight.
Someone shot and killed 44-year-old Tarvores Maurice Pearson Monday night.
According to the Bibb Sheriff's Office, deputies found him shot at 3245 Houston Avenue– an empty lot.
We spoke to many people and businesses in the area and no one would speak on camera, but they say the crime has been quiet in the area despite Monday’s shooting. They say it was worse when the former Friend’s Food Mart was open.
County Commissioner Bill Howell says Houston Avenue is the north part of his district. He says the former Friend's Food Mart on the 3300 Block had been a problem for years.
“There was a lot of drugs going on. They actually caught someone shooting a gun there caught on camera,” he explained.
In June 2022, a Bibb judge's order temporarily closed the mart after three people were shot there; two were fatal.
“I don't know how many people have to die for this to be a public nuisance,” said David Cooke– Bibb’s County Attorney during the trial.
Howell says the county deemed it a public nuisance.
“There was a lot of calls there– a lot of 911 calls there. We found that sometimes it's just best to go in and shut them down,” Howell said.
That’s what happened. In May last year, the store’s doors were shut and the building was torn down.
“It looks like the right decision was made because the activities have ceased,” Howell said.
Neighboring businesses say it has been much quieter since Friend’s Food Mart's demolition.
However, they say crime is still constant with kids as young as 14-17 often involved in gun violence.
As for Pearson's death, Howell said the details are still unclear.
“It's hard to say if it was related because of the area, or it was a domestic deal, you never know,” Howell said.
We also reached out to the Bibb County Sheriff's office for details on last night's shooting, including suspects.
They've not released any new information.
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