'Kidnapped' murder suspect dies after shooting himself during search for Georgia escaped inmates
Christian Williams
BIBB COUNTY. Ga. - A man who was supposedly kidnapped just hours before he was scheduled to go on trial in March for murder shot himself on Monday. And, the shooting is connected to the search for the missing inmates in Bibb County.
According to Bibb County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Marshals were following up on leads when they knocked on an apartment door around 7 a.m. at The Pines on Vineville on Vineville Avenue.
Someone fired shots through the door and the Marshals called for the assistance of Bibb County's SWAT team.
After the SWAT team arrived, a woman from inside the apartment told the law enforcement agents that a man was down from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the apartment.
The man was identified as 23-year-old Christian Demond Williams, who disappeared on March 6, 2023, just hours before he was due in court for a murder committed in 2021. A security camera showed Williams being attacked by 2 men on the front porch of his home. However, the prosecutors in the case have expressed doubts that Williams was truly kidnapped.
Williams was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced deceased at 11:25 a.m. Tuesday.
The woman who was with Williams at the time of the shooting was also arrested and is being charged with aiding an escape, according to the Associated Press.
Williams possible involvement with the escaped inmates is under investigation.
The escaped inmates have been on the run since last week. They have been identified as Joey Fournier, Marc Kerry Anderson, Johnifer Dernard Barnwell and Chavis Demaryo Stokes. A blue Dodge Challenger that appears to have been involved in the escape was found last Friday.
STORIES ABOUT ESCAPED INMATES
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If you know anything about where the escaped inmates might be, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2. You can also submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov or through the USMS Tips App.