UPDATE: Man convicted on murder charges in Fort Valley shooting that killed 1-year-old
A Peach County jury found Christopher Miller guilty of murder and other charges for the 2022 shooting that killed 1-year-old Marcus Ball Jr. and injured his sister.
UPDATE (5/2/25): A Peach County jury has convicted Christopher Alexander Miller on all charges related to a 2022 shooting that killed 23-month-old Marcus Ball Jr. and injured his 12-month-old sister, according to a news release from Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard’s Office.
The conviction was announced Friday. Jurors deliberated for less than an hour and a half Thursday before finding Miller guilty of malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
Marcus Ball Jr. (Photo: Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office)
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Miller fired several shots toward Building D in the Lakeview Apartments in Fort Valley on July 20, 2022. The gunfire, part of a dispute with another person who lived in the building, struck the children’s bedroom. A bullet went through Markailey Ball’s right arm and into the head of her brother, Marcus Ball Jr., while they were being held by their teenage sister.
The District Attorney’s Office said investigators from Howard’s team had to take a substantially more active role due to issues in the initial investigation. Many witnesses were reluctant or fearful, and six officers who testified are no longer with the original investigating agency. Two officers traveled as far as 200 miles to testify.
“The reckless disregard for human life demonstrated in this case will not be tolerated in our communities,” Howard said. “When innocent children become victims of senseless gun violence, we will not rest until justice is served. Today’s conviction demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders accountable.”
Miller was sentenced Friday morning to life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years.
File photo: August 2022
UPDATE (8/22/22): One of the suspects in the July 20 shootings in Fort Valley that claimed the life of a 1-year-old and injured his 2-year-old sister is now behind bars.
Christopher Miller was taken into custody Saturday night in Warner Robins. That’s according to a release on the Fort Valley Police Department’s Facebook Page. Miller is now in the Peach County Jail.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT VALLEY, Georgia(41NBC/WMGT)— A shooting in Fort Valley leaves a 1-year-old dead and his sister fighting for her life.
Fort Valley police responded to a shots fire call at Lakeview Apartments on Wednesday around 10:45 p.m. When they arrived on scene, police found two children with gunshot wounds.
One-year-old Marcus Ball was pronounced dead on scene. His sister Markeily, also a toddler, was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Fort Valley Police Chief Roy Thompson says they have a person of interest, but still need your help in this case.
“We welcome any assistance from the community, any witnesses, or any information at all about this case to help in the investigation,” said Chief Thompson.
He says the department is also helping organize safer security measures as well.
“We’re working with apartment management as this time to create a more comprehensive security plan as we already started to develop that security plan,” he said.
Sandra Marshall lives down the road from the apartment complex. Marshall said she was scared when the shooting happened. She hopes the community will come together to help prevent more violence.
“It’s unfortunate and my mind goes out to my neighbors, because I love my neighbors. It’s unfortunate that this has happened again,” said Marshall.
If you have any information about the shooting, call the Fort Valley Police Department at (478) 825-3383.
