Caretaker charged with murder in death of Fort Valley child

The man who was taking care of an 8-year-old boy fatally wounded when shots were fired into a Fort Valley apartment has been charged with murder in the second degree, police said.

De’Jad Williams was also charged with cruelty to children in the second degree in relation to the death of Jai’mel Anderson, a Fort Valley police news release stated.

Williams, who is the boyfriend of Jai’mel’s mother, is accused of “causing the death of Jai’mel Anderson when he acted with criminal negligence and reckless disregard for the (boy’s) safety,” the release stated.

Williams is accused of encouraging and engaging in threats and aggravated assaults involving a firearm by text messages.

“Not only did Williams reveal his address but he invited the assailants to come to this address to engage in armed violence and mutual combat,” the release stated. “He also armed himself with a handgun in anticipation of this confrontation.”

Williams engaged in this conduct knowing the boy was at his apartment and under his direct supervision, the release stated.

“This invitation for armed violence created a foreseeable risk of danger to Jai’mel Anderson, and Williams took no action to protect Anderson from this imminent threat of danger and the actual aggravated assaults that occurred,” the release stated. “All of the above acts and his failure to act did demonstrate willful, wanton, and reckless disregard for the safety of Jai’mel Anderson, who sustained two gunshot wounds during this aggravated assault, which did cause cruel and excessive physical pain and result in Anderson’s death.”

At a Friday news conference, District Attorney David Cooke explained the second-degree murder charge filed against Williams carries a penalty of between 10 and 30 years. A traditional murder charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.

Cooke said the second-degree murder charge is new to Georgia. It was enacted by legislators last year.

“Second-degree murder involves a murder based on second-degree cruelty to children. So because this allegation resulted from an allegation of cruelty to children in the second degree that led to death, it’s charged as second-degree murder,” he said.

Cooke declined comment about the condition of a 6-year-old in the house at the time of the shooting, saying “this is an ongoing investigation and prosecution.”

He also declined comment about whether authorities may have other suspects.

Five others have been arrested in connection with the boy’s death.

Dennis Ray Eason, 25, of Fort Valley; Kristian Jamal Wipfel, 19, of Macon; Antonio Darrelle Garvin, 20, of Macon; Jeremy Quillen Jackson, 24, of Macon; and Tevin Juwan Sams, 20, of Macon, have been charged with felony murder. All but Eason are being held in the Peach County jail without bond.

Eason was arrested and initially charged with terroristic threats when attempting to board a Greyhound bus in Birmingham, Alabama. He declined to waive extradition to Fort Valley, so the process of bringing him back to face charges will be delayed.

Eason is accused of sending a text message an hour before the shooting to Williams, in which Williams was asked to come out and fight.

Williams also was previously charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and probation violation after a search of the apartment.

Telegraph writer Amy Leigh Womack contributed to this report. To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.

This story was originally published January 16, 2015 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Caretaker charged with murder in death of Fort Valley child ."