Newspaper Page Text
Tuesday, December 14,2021
HERE’S THE
SCOOP
Oscar
Wimberly
Classic
on tap
Dec. 28-30
Lamar Counaty High
School will host the
Oscar Wimberly Basket
ball Classic Dec. 28-30 at
the high
school
gym.
The Tro
jans and
Lady Tro
jans will
host teams
WIMBERLY from
Manchester, Alcovy,
Stockbridge, Heritage,
Westside (Macon),
Dutchtown, Central
Christian, Warner Rob
ins and Taylor County.
Brackets will be forth
coming.
For more information,
cal 770.358.8641.
Forensics
pending
in T-Street
shooting
Results from the state
crime lab are still pending
in a Barnesville shooting
that left 45-year-old Rich
ard Chad Wilson dead at
his home at 722 Thomas-
ton Street Nov. 19.
The shooting was first
thought to be a suicide
but later drew additional
scrutiny.
A female was arrested
at the home after she
slapped a warrant out
of a police investiga
tor’s hand Nov. 29. Dawn
Michele Wilson, 45, was
charged with obstruction
after that altercation. She
is free on a $5,000 bond.
“We have heard noth
ing from the crime lab.
1 have no idea why it is
taking so long,” Capt. A1
Moltrum of BPD reported
Monday.
Public hearing
on county
budget is today
A public hearing on
the county’s 2022 prop-
sed budget will be held
today at 1 p.m. at the
courthouse. The county
commission will hold a
workshop meeting after
the hearing.
Subscribe. Your name goes
on the label in this box
Santa to visit Depot Friday
Depot Plaza in downtown
Barnesville has been trans
formed into a Winter Wonder
land Friday in anticipation of
a visit from Santa Claus Friday
night.
The man in red will be on
hand for free photos with kids
from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A special
guest and a unique meteoro
logical event are also planned.
While there, children can
pen letters to Santa that will be
assured rapid delivery to the
North Pole. Hot chocolate and
s’mores will be served.
For more information, call
678.815.5102.
Empty Stocking Fund:
Last week’s After Hours
raised over $10,000 for the
Empty Stocking Fund and it
was sorely needed after van
dals struck the toy warehouse.
For more on that see Geiger’s
Counter on page 4A.
Toys for Tots:
The Toys for Tots drive is
ongoing. New toys may be
dropped off at Southern Riv
ers Energy on Hwy. 341 South
through Dec. 16. For more
information, call 770.358.1383.
THE HERALD GAZETTE/WALTER GEIGER
LCPS Christmas show packs the house
A huge crowd was on hand at the Fine Arts Center Dec. 7 for the annual Christmas program presented by
students at Lamar County Primary School. The program was entitled 'Twas One Week Before Christmas’ and the
young actors brought down the house.
Flashing Hollywood smiles during their time in the spotlight were Payton Grace Turner (left) and Kasey Nelson.
Local woman
busted with
two ounces
of meth
A 44-year-old Barnesville
woman faces multiple charges
in Spalding County after a traf
fic stop led to
a drug seizure
Dec. 8.
Units from
the Griffin
Police Depart
ment’s CAGE
unit stopped
a vehicle and
had enough
evidence for a
probable cause
search. During the search, two
ounces of meth were found on
the driver.
Lisa Jeanne Bash went to
jail charged with trafficking in
meth, possession of meth with
intent to distribute, possession
of meth, failure to use a turn
signal and obstructed tag.
Waffle House
shooter
sentenced
ft'
HENDERSON
A well-connected Butts
County man has been sen
tenced to prison for shooting a
Lamar County man to death at
the Hwy. 36 Waffle House.
Robert
Lewis Hender
son, Jr., 38, of
Flovilla was
sentenced
to 12 years
in prison
followed by
eight years on
probation last
week for kill
ing Nicholas
Phinazee Bryan, 27, of Milner
on Oct. 31, 2019.
Henderson, whose father
is a well-known minister and
a Butts County commissioner,
shot Bryan after an alterca
tion at the restaurant. He had
been charged with murder but
was convicted of voluntary
manslaughter and aggravated
assault.
Henderson also had to turn
over a badge and other law en
forcement equipment he had in
his possession from a stint as a
reserve deputy in the past.
Collier hearing held amid tight security due to gang worries
Alleged killer Taurean Collier (right) is escorted into the magistrate court
room by Sgt. Jerry Meadows Dec. 9. A first appearance hearing for Collier was
held amidst tight security due to gang violence concerns.
WALTER GEIGER
news@barnesville.com
A probable cause/bond hear
ing for alleged killer Taurean
Kaream Collier was held Dec. 9
under tight security and a sec
ond victim from the shooting he
is charged with was identified.
The hearing was held at 8:30
a.m. at the magistrate court
room at the jail with multiple
heavily-armed deputies in
tactical gear providing security
due to gang violence concerns.
Judge Tommy Wilson presided.
Collier, 38, is charged with
felony murder, three counts ag
gravated assault, possession of
a firearm by a convicted felon,
theft by receiving stolen proper
ty and three counts possession
of a firearm during the commis
sion of a felony in connection
with the Nov. 5 shooting death
of Shaniqua Penn, 27, of Hamp
ton.
BPD investigator Lt. Brian
McWhorter was the sole wit
ness called to the stand. He
said Collier arrived at a raucous
party at 210 Jackson Street at
about 1:15 a.m. Nov. 5. Police
had received a loud music
complaint about the party
earlier and a male in the home,
35-year-old Kevin Mitchell, went
to jail charged with disorderly
conduct, keeping a disorderly
house and obstruction prior to
shots being fired.
McWhorter said Collier left
his car in the road, went inside
and started choking Antoi-
netta Lyons, the mother of his
child(ren). Three females went
to Penn’s aid and Thomas (TJ)
Lyons got Collier out of the
house. They scuffled on a side
porch and witnesses heard Col
lier tell TJ Lyons, “I will shoot
you in the head,” McWhorter
testified.
TJ Lyons said Collier shot
him in the knee. Collier said
Lyons fired a shot into the
ground before he shot Lyons.
Lyons fled down the street to
his grandmother’s house, Mc
Whorter testified.
Collier stayed in the drive
way. About 20 people were in
the garage and someone shut
the door. Lervictor Walker
decided to leave, opened the
door and encountered Collier.
He talked to Collier and got him
to his car, McWhorter said.
Walker then heard the garage
door open and shots fired.
He ran for cover. Walker said
Collier ran to the middle of the
driveway and fired toward the
house. Walker asked Collier,
“Did you hit anyone?” Collier re
plied, “1 don’t know.” They then
heard a lot of screaming and
cries of ‘she’s been hit’. Collier
then fled, McWhorter said.
“No one saw a gun in TJ Ly
ons’ hand and no one saw a gun
in Penn’s hand,” McWhorter
testified.
Arriving officers found Penn
face down and unresponsive
near the garage door and
started CPR. EMTs took over
the resuscitation effort when
they arrived and the officers
began taping off and securing
the scene.
“There was an assistant
SEE COLLIER HEARING 3A
©2021 THE HERALD GAZETTE, BARNESVILLE, LAMAR COUNTY, GA 30204, 770.358.NEWS
