The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has taken into custody a Tifton teenager, Xavier Berrian, on multiple charges in connection to a recent homicide. The 17-year-old is facing Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Tampering with Evidence, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, according to the GBI website. Berrian's arrest followed a request from the Tifton Police Department last Sunday for assistance with the case.
According to the official report, the incident under investigation took place at a home on Tifton-Eldorado Road. Responding to a shooting, Tifton Police Department officers discovered 18-year-old Jaquan Jones, also of Tifton, with a gunshot wound. Despite being transported to a local hospital for treatment, Jones succumbed to his injuries. Carried out by the GBI, an autopsy is pending as they transported Jones' body to their Crime Lab in Macon.
Currently held at the Tift County Jail, the young Berrian is at the center of a case that remains both active and ongoing. The GBI, along with the local police, is extending a call to the public for any information regarding the incident. Tips can be anonymously provided by contacting either the Tifton Police Department or the GBI regional investigative office, as well as through the See Something, Send Something mobile app or the GBI page for online tip submission.
Once completed, the investigation's findings will be handed over to the Tift Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, which will have the responsibility for prosecution. The GBI emphasizes the necessity for community cooperation in these matters, opening channels for tips that could shed light on circumstances surrounding the tragedy. In this effort, the GBI has made available several avenues to encourage the public's engagement, ensuring confidentiality for those who decide to step forward.
