UPDATE: Driver found guilty in passenger’s shooting death of another in 2019

29-year-old Brandon Tyler was found guilty on Friday of malice murder, felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting death of Deroderick Ridley and the shooting of Marquis Simmons.

UPDATE (3/1/24) –  29-year-old Brandon Tyler was found guilty on Friday of malice murder, felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting death of Deroderick Ridley and the shooting of Marquis Simmons. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.

According to a Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office news release, on June 19, 2019, Tyler drove his car into a parking lot at the corner of Hillcrest Road and Log Cabin Drive. A masked gunman got out of the passenger side of the vehicle and opened fire on Ridley and Simmons. The gunman then returned to the car, and Tyler drove away from the scene, only to crash a little more than a mile away.

The DA’s Office says the murder weapon was still in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Ridley died and Simmons recovered, despite being shot more than 10 times.

“Today’s verdict sends the message that ANY participation in senseless violence which leads to loss of life will not be tolerated in our Circuit,” District Attorney Anita Howard said. “Our Office will prosecute ALL such offenders based on evidence to the fullest extent of the law without fear or favor.”

UPDATE (6/27/19) – A second person is in custody in connection with a June 2 shooting that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old man.

22-year-old Kenyatta Sharroid Jones Jr. of Macon was arrested Thursday morning after deputies say they spotted him at a store near the corner of Mumford Road and Napier Avenue.

Jones is charged with murder and is being held without bond at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center. Deputies say he also had a warrant from an unrelated burglary case.

ORIGINAL STORY:

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies, along with the Marshals South East Regional Task Force, arrested a Macon man in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Deroderick Ridley.

Authorities say the shooting happened on June 2, 2019.

Deputies say they arrested 24-year-old Brandon Matthew Tyler with the help of a tip from the Macon Regional Crimestoppers.

Authorities found Tyler at Park Apartments on Northside Drive.

Deputies took Tyler to Bibb County Jail and charged him with murder. He also had a warrant for a probation violation on an unrelated case.

He is being held without bond.

If you have any information, call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 751-7500. You can also call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.