Macon murder suspect wants case tossed, says he was threatened by victim. Judge disagrees
A Bibb County judge has denied a man’s claim for immunity in his Macon murder case after he argued he was threatened at gunpoint by the man he shot and killed.
Quindray Threatt, who was indicted in March 2022 for charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault, tried to argue that he justifiably shot Michael Whitaker in February 2020. But Superior Court Judge Connie Williford ruled Thursday that the testimony of witnesses who backed up Threatt’s claim of self-defense wasn’t credible. Williford heard arguments about this case in September 2024, then closing arguments on the issue of immunity were heard Thursday before the ruling.
Why Macon murder suspect felt shooting was justified
Threatt said in his claim for immunity that he shot Whitaker after Whitaker pulled a gun on him. Whitaker was a car detailer at Auto Custom Unlimited, a shop that Threatt brought a car to on the day of the shooting. Testimony in the case indicated that Whitaker had worked on a car for Threatt previously, but Threatt was unhappy with the result and told others not to give Whitaker work. When Whitaker was found dead, he had two gunshot wounds in his back, one on his side and one on his arm, according to court testimony.
Investigators said those who gave them information on the case offered conflicting accounts. An investigator with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Daniel Shirley, said they interviewed multiple witnesses. One, Janhniya Watson, said she heard gunshots but didn’t see either man with a gun. He also interviewed Threatt, auto shop owner John Lamar, and Keon Smith, Threatt’s friend who was with him at the time of the shooting.
What the suspect says happened
Threatt said at the time of the shooting, he heard a gun cock behind his back while at the detailing shop, and turned around to find Whitaker holding it, according to information presented in the case. He raised his hands and backed up the road to get away while Whitaker moved toward him with the gun. Threatt testified that Whitaker turned around to speak to a crowd watching the altercation and said he should have killed Threatt while putting his gun in his pocket, but keeping a hand on it.
Threatt testified that Whitaker spun back around to face him, slapped his chest and pulled the gun out again. Threatt said he feared for his life, pulled his gun, closed his eyes and fired repeatedly at Whitaker.
Threatt and Smith jumped in their car and left the scene. But he later called 911 and reported the shooting. Threatt then drove to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, gave a recorded statement then turned over his gun and cell phone to law enforcement.
Glentavious Lane, another friend of Threatt’s, backed up Threatt’s story though said he didn’t see the actual shooting happen. He was never interviewed by police, according to information presented in the case.
Smith, the friend with Threatt at the time, backed up Threatt’s story but ultimately decided he didn’t want to be involved in court proceedings, according to court records, despite a private investigator’s attempts to subpoena him. So Williford decided a videotaped interview from Smith could be used in the case.
Auto shop owner changes his story
Lamar told Shirley initially that Whitaker didn’t have a gun, and Threatt chased Whitaker then shot him in the back, according to testimony. But when Lamar took the stand to testify in court, his story was different.
On the stand, Lamar said he was in the vicinity at the time of the killing. He had not seen the shooting but had heard the shots. After the shooting, Lamar and others, who were unknown to Lamar, approached Whitaker. The unknown people took Whitaker’s gun and left the scene.
When asked by prosecutor Michael Parrish why he changed his story, Lamar said he did not tell the truth to law enforcement and Parrish because “he was scared of the persons who had taken the gun from Michael Whitaker’s body,” according to his testimony. He felt threatened by these individuals and told the truth on the stand, Lamar said.
Threatt’s attorney, C. Alan Wheeler, offered an explanation for that possibility in court.
“John Lamar deals with clients that are probably of a little rougher nature,” Wheeler told the judge. “(He) was scared to death of retribution being taken on him. I would propose to the court that that’s one of the reasons that he gave the story to law enforcement that he gave on the evening of the tenth, and why he was not cooperative with Mr. Parrish immediately before the hearing.”
Why judge told Macon suspect he’s not immune
Williford eventually determined that the testimony of several witnesses was not credible, declaring Threatt “failed to prove that a reasonable person would have believed that the use of deadly force against Whitaker was necessary to prevent his own death or great bodily harm to him,” according to court records.
Williford determined that the testimonies from Lane, Lamar and Smith weren’t credible. Williford said in a ruling that both Lane and Smith had a motive to “fabricate their stories in order to support their good friend.”
Considering Smith was in the car with Threatt, Williford argued that both had the opportunity to discuss what to tell authorities about the shooting.
Lane’s testimony is also suspicious, Williford states, considering he never told law enforcement that he was there the night of the shooting or that he observed Whitaker with a gun. No other witnesses could verify that Lane was even present, Williford said.
Lastly, she said Lamar’s testimony on seeing Whitaker holding a gun is doubtful, considering he told Shirley, when the events were fresh on his mind, that Whitaker did not have a gun. He reaffirmed his account of the events to Parrish before getting on the stand. He also claimed that other persons confronted him after the shooting and removed the gun from Whitaker’s body, but no other witnesses testified to seeing these unknown persons the night of the shooting.
“Whether Mr. Lamar’s implausible testimony at the immunity hearing was based upon his fear of retribution or some other factor,” Williford said. “The Court does not find it credible.”
Parrish requested in his closing argument that Threatt’s case should “expeditiously” head for trial to be heard by a jury. Williford said that while Threatt isn’t immune, he and his lawyer could use the argument of self-defense at trial in an effort to get an acquittal.
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 1:28 PM.
