Man arrested in Laurens County shooting, deputies search for second suspect

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old Corey Michael Bergeson of Statesboro for his involvement in a New Year’s Eve fatal shooting.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of two people shot at an East Dublin home on North Highway 319 around 8 p.m. Wednesday. Laurens County Coroner Richard Stanley tells 41NBC 25-year-old Antone Perry Johnson was pronounced dead at 8:45 p.m.

The sheriff’s office says 17-year-old Peter Vanderlin was also shot. He was taken to the hospital. His father says he is in stable condition.

Bergson is charged with murder and is being held in the Laurens County Jail.

Deputies are searching for 29-year-old David Ray Woodard. He is wanted for murder.

Vanderlin’s father tells 41NBC Woodard was staying in his home when the shooting happened. 

“I thought he was a friend of mine. Ray Woodard was in my home. He asked me if it’d be alright if he crashed at my place a couple of days. I was out of town working and I said yeah, no problem,” recalled Vanderlin’s father.  

Woodard is believed to be with 23-year-old Samantha Nicole Pruett. She is also a person of interest in the investigation.

Anyone with information on the two are asked to call the the Laurens County Sheriff Office at (478) 272-79-85 or (478) 272-1522