3 charged in connection to Valdosta shooting that left 1 dead, 2 injured

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - One person is dead and two others are injured after a shooting in Valdosta Wednesday afternoon.

The shooting happened on Willie Houseal Drive across from the northwest corner of Scott Park.

Officers found the three victims at different locations.

Ryeshon Young, 21, was found by officers in a vehicle in the 200 block of South Troup Street with a gunshot wound to his leg. Officers provided first aid until EMS arrived on the scene and transported him to the hospital, officials said.

Officers later located a vehicle that Malcome Cooper, 34, and Nehemiah Ballard, 22, were traveling in. The vehicle was headed towards the hospital, so officers followed it to the hospital and found Cooper with a gunshot wound to his chest, according to officials.

A citizen in the 1500 block of Willow Houseal Drive reported that Elijah Davis, 26, was lying in a parking lot with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers were forced to expand the crime scene after several citizens began to gather in the area and film the victim while he was lying on the ground, according to officials. Davis was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An investigation and evidence collected at the different scenes determined that all parties were conducting a narcotics transaction in the parking lot of the apartments in the 1500 block of Willie Houseal Drive. During the transaction, multiple guns were produced and multiple shots were fired.

While at the hospital, officers determined that Cooper provided them with false information. When officers checked his correct information, they found that Cooper had multiple warrants out of Florida. One for murder in Broward County.

Cooper told officers that he knew he had warrants and had been “on the run” for three years.

Cooper and Young were treated and released from the hospital. They, along with Ballard, were taken to the Lowndes County Jail.

Cooper was charged with felony murder, felony aggravated assault, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, felony criminal attempt to purchase marijuana, giving a false name and date of birth, felony fugitive from justice and multiple warrants out of Florida.

Young is being charged with felony murder, felony aggravated assault and felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Ballard has been charged with felony use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug transaction.

“This was an isolated incident, and we have several parties in custody. Our condolences go out to the victim’s family, but we are extremely lucky that this reckless conduct with firearms near a park and near a school, did not result in innocent victims being injured,” Chief Leslie Manahan said.

Detectives are still processing evidence and further charges are pending.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the VPD Bureau of Investigative Services at (229) 293-3145, the crime tip line at (229) 293-3091 or file a tip online.

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