FBI helps Perry police find man accused in fatal shooting of U.S. Marine

A 25-year-old accused of fatally shooting a U.S. Marine in Perry on Sunday evening was arrested early Tuesday at a house in Macon’s Fort Hill neighborhood.

Quavion Shaquil Rountree is charged with murder in the death of 20-year-old Pvt. Anahitdeep Singh Sandhu, who died in the emergency room of Perry Hospital after being shot several times near the parking lot at King Villas apartments, according to a news release from the Perry Police Department.

Police Chief Steve Lynn said Sandhu, who was working in Beaufort, South Carolina, was in town visiting friends or family.

The FBI and the violent crimes unit of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office worked with Perry police detectives to find Rountree, who was nabbed at a blighted house on Sunnydale Drive in east Macon about 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Police have not said what may have prompted the fatal shooting, which marked the city’s third homicide in a decade.

Rountree was living at the apartments where Sandhu was shot, but it was unclear whether the two men knew each other. Rountree was unemployed, according to a jail booking report.

Sandhu, who is from Kent, Washington, was assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, Marine Aircraft Group 31 and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine 1st Lt. Sam Stephenson told The Telegraph.

Lt. Col. Joshua Pieczonka, Sandhu’s commanding officer, said Sandhu was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal.

“Our deepest condolences are with Private Anahitdeep Sandhu ‘s family, friends and fellow VMFA(AW)-224 Marines and Sailors,” Pieczonka said in a statement to The Telegraph. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this extremely difficult time. The command’s priority is to take care of this Marine’s family and affected fellow Marines and Sailors.”

This story was originally published April 30, 2019 at 12:12 PM.