Man extradicted to face murder charges of eight-year-old Fort Valley boy

Dennis Ray Eason Jr., is accused of malice and felony murder, terroristic threats, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Eason faced Peach County Magistrate Court Judge Larry Lee, Friday. Judge Lee denied bond and bound the case over to
Peach County Superior Court.

Eason told Judge Lee his family was working to get him an attorney. Eason is facing life in jail or the death penalty for the murder charges. He is also facing 20 years in prison for the aggravated assault charge and five years for the weapon charges.

The 25-year-old Fort Valley man was arrested in Alabama in January for in connection to the fatal shooting an eight-year-old, Jaimel Anderson.

Anderson was shot at the Indian Oaks apartment complex Jan. 6. Officers found the eight-year-old lying unconscious inside the apartment. He was shot several time in the upper torso.

Anderson was pronounced dead at Peach County hospital.

Eason was caught in Birmingham, Alabama at the Grey Hound Bus station trying to catch a bus.
He was extradited from Birmingham to Peach County to face the charges.

Fort Valley Police arrested three Macon men who are also accused of killing Anderson.  Jeremy Quillan Jackson, 24, Antonio Garvin, 20, and Kristian Jamal Wipfel, 21 are all charged with murder. Tevan Sams, 21, of Lizella is also charged with murder.

Dejad Williams was arrested for his involvement in the case. Williams on drug charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and probation violation.

They are all charged with murder and are being held in separate jails, in Bibb, Houston and Peach Counties.

“Rally in the Valley” was held at Indian Oaks Apartments complex where the eight-year-old was fatally shot.

Organizers say the purpose of “Rally in the Valley” was to support the children in the neighborhood.

“We want to show them that they don’t have to be scared,” said Dr. Vernard Hodges, who spearheaded the event. “We want to rally behind this tragedy and say that there’s good and that we’ll be here to make sure that everything’s OK.”

A candlelight vigil was also held at the apartment complex evening for Jaimel, who was shot in apartment 2-E.