The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has recently disclosed further developments in the tragic case of the death of 14-year-old Michael Jmai Palmer in Pembroke, GA. The latest update, as reported on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's official website, brings news of the arrest of Emmanuel Lee Williams, who faces charges including Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault, this following a coordinated effort between local authorities and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Emmanuel Lee Williams, 19, was apprehended during a traffic stop in Coffee County, TN, by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, District 2, on Wednesday. In relation, to the aforementioned charges, he is also accused of Possessing a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and making False Statements. He is currently being detained at the Coffee County Jail in Tennessee, pending extradition procedures as the case proceedings forge ahead.
In a concerning connection to the case, the GBI has additionally arrested and charged Israel Lee Williams, age 16, with the murder of the young Palmer. The accused was taken into custody on May 12, 2024, and is presently housed at the Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center, while legal gears turn towards potential prosecution. The announcement clarified that the investigation is "active and ongoing," and the public's assistance is sought, inviting anyone with relevant information to reach out to the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Statesboro or to submit tips anonymously through various channels provided by the bureau.
The genesis of this somber tale traces back to a 911 emergency dispatch leading Pembroke Police Department officers to Miller Homes off Dubois Street where they discovered the grievously wounded teenager. Palmer, the victim of a fatal gunshot, was pronounced dead upon their arrival. The GBI Crime Lab is slated to carry out an autopsy to discern further details surrounding the circumstances of Palmer's death, a strategy endemic to this investigative juncture. Once the entirety of their inquisition is encapsulated in a case file, the onus will transition to the Atlantic District Attorney’s Office who will review and, if necessary, propel the case into the prosecutorial domain.
