Vidalia Village Shooting Suspect Captured

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com

After investigating the case for over two weeks, the Vidalia Police Department captured a man suspected of killing Timothy Byrd, 31, of Vidalia, at the Vidalia Village apartments.

On December 12, at approximately 11:40 a.m., first responders were dispatched to the Vidalia Village Apartments, located at 410 Randolph Drive, because of reports of an individual suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. When they arrived, Vidalia police officers found Byrd suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was quickly transported to Memorial Health Meadows Hospital by EMS for treatment, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Officers were unable to locate the shoote r at the scene, causing concerns for safety throughout the city. At 3:15 on December 12, Vidalia Police Chief James Jermon assured the public that there was no imminent danger or threat to the community at that time.

On Monday, December 16, Jermon shared that an arrest had not been made in the shooting but would hopefully come soon.

Detectives continued to investigate the incident and determined Ja’meak Rashod Byrd, 27, of Vidalia, to be the sole suspect in the case. A warrant was issued for Byrd’s arrest, and he was taken into custody on Tuesday, December 31, and charged with murder. Byrd remains in custody at the Toombs County Detention Center.

The Vidalia Police Department is continuing to work jointly with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to probe the case. Anyone with information should call the Vidalia Police Department – Investigative Services Division at (912) 537-4123, or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation – Eastman Office at (478) 374-6988. To submit tips anonymously, call the hotline at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visit the Georgia Bureau of Investigation website, or download the See Something, Say Something mobile app.