Macon man sentenced after deadly apartment shooting

Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a vehicle.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Macon man was sentenced after being convicted in connection with a deadly apartment complex shooting, according to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

37-year-old Earlondez Bond was found guilty April 27, 2026, of aggravated assault following a shooting at Hunter’s Run Apartments that left one man dead. He was immediately sentenced to 20 years on probation, with the first 10 years to be served.

According to investigators, deputies with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office responded to the apartment complex on October 12, 2020, after reports of gunfire.

Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a vehicle. Investigators determined Bond arrived at the complex armed with two firearms and was confronted by the victim, identified as Joshua Benard Horne.

Officials said Bond pointed a firearm at several people and admitted to chasing Horne before at some point dropping the weapon he was carrying.

Bond’s wife told investigators she repeatedly tried to get him back into the car before the situation escalated, according to authorities.

Physical evidence showed both of Bond’s firearms were discharged. Investigators said a projectile recovered during Horne’s autopsy matched Bond’s Taurus pistol.

Prosecutors said Bond claimed self-defense, stating the victim picked up a dropped Ruger firearm and fired at him.

Before trial, the state offered Bond a plea deal that would have resulted in a 10-year sentence with five years to serve, but he declined and chose to go to trial.

At sentencing, the judge said Bond should have known better than to escalate the situation and declined to sentence him as a first offender, reflecting the seriousness of the case.

District Attorney Anita Howard released the following statement:

“This verdict sends a clear message that you cannot arm yourself, walk into someone else’s neighborhood looking for a confrontation, and take a life without being held accountable. Mr. Bond made a series of calculated, dangerous choices that night, and this jury held him accountable for them. We offered Bond the ability to make amends for his actions prior to trial. He rejected that opportunity and his sentence reflects that poor decision. The Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing justice for every victim of violent crime in our community, and we thank the jury for their diligence.”