Man fatally shot at party near Middle Georgia State campus

Gunfire scattered hundreds of people from a Cochran party early Friday near the campus of Middle Georgia State University.

Devonte Raqualle Johnson, 24, was wounded outside the Community House at 190 South Third Street when Cochran police responded after the 12:10 a.m. shooting.

Johnson, of East Dublin, died en route to Medical Center, Navicent Health, in Macon, said Scott Whitley, special agent in charge of the Eastman office of the GBI.

“He is not a student, according to campus police, and there’s no indication he ever attended there,” Whitley said.

The university’s Facebook page also added that the victim is not believed to be an employee of the college, either.

The building, which is next door to the Baptist Student Union Center, is owned by the Cochran Women’s Club and is rented out for group functions, he said.

Oneta Kitchens was on her way to the house Friday to survey the condition of the inside.

“I’m very shocked,” Kitchens said.

Kitchens did not previously know the man who rented the house for the party.

“I think he gave me a ficticious name,” Kitchens said. “The Women’s Club spent a lot of money fixing this up to look nice and then something like this happens.”

The building is rented for showers, family reunions and other gatherings.

“This is very, very close to the college,” Whitley said early Friday.

The campus, which is a short block away, was locked down for about three hours after an alert went out to all students at about 1 a.m.

The university’s Facebook page initially stated the suspects were two black males and a white male who ran toward Peter Street.

An update an hour later stated the suspect was a black male who ran away between Peter and Lewis streets.

Police officers were stationed at all dormitories.

By 4 a.m., the lock down was lifted: “Suspect is not believed to be in the vicinity of campus. If students or employees see anything suspicious or have any information about the incident, please contact MGA Police: 478-471-2414.”

Cochran police requested GBI assistance and crime scene investigators are gathering evidence at the scene and also are working with the Middle Georgia State University campus police.

The area around the Community House is expected to be roped off for hours as the investigation continues.

No one was in custody as of a 9 a.m. GBI news release.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the Eastman office of the GBI at 478-374-6988 or the Cochran Police Department at 478-934-1037.

This story was originally published September 16, 2016 at 5:59 AM with the headline "Man fatally shot at party near Middle Georgia State campus."