GBI: Two Dooly County adults, toddler killed in ambush

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The hunt for a killer who shot four people, killing three, including a 17-month-old boy, intensified Thursday evening.

Jashon Ingram, who is just 17 months old, was shot to death outside a double-wide mobile home on Hill Street in the small town of Byromville about 135 miles south of Atlanta early Wednesday morning along with two others.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the homeowner, 47-year-old Priscilla Adams, was going to drive Jashon to daycare and then take her 17-year-old daughter to a friend's home to catch a school bus before she went to work. But investigators said before they left, they were ambushed.

"It looks like it was more of an ambush, but I don't know that when we were looking at the scene. Again, they were coming out of this doublewide to get into the car to go about their daily routine," said J.T. Ricketson, Special Agent in Charge of the GBI.

Jashon and Ms. Adams were pronounced dead at the scene. The teenage girl was taken to a Macon hospital and is recovering.

Bessie Ingram, the little boy’s grandmother, was overcome with grief.

"Whoever did this they didn't have to kill my grandson. My grandson did nothing, nothing wrong to nobody," said Ingram.

Ricketson said when investigators were searching for clues, a police K-9 across the street discovered the body of 60-year-old Willie Merrill, known locally as Shinebone, a vegetable salesman.

The GBI said Mr. Merrell had been shot in the stomach and next to his body in his backyard was a long rifle.

"This long rifle matches the caliber of the shell casings we found over at the original scene," said Ricketson.

Investigators said there were seven people living in the doublewide including little Jashon, his mother, her boyfriend, Mrs. Adams, her daughter, and two other men. All the others who were in the mobile home at the time of the shootings had been questioned, he said.

As of late Thursday night, no suspect had been identified, but family members are confident the killer will not escape justice.

"You can hide bit God see you every day, God see you every day," said Ricky Merdell, the victim's brother.

Jashon's grandmother spoke directly to the killer.

"It just doesn't make any sense to me. Whoever did this, I hope you pay and pay dearly," said Ingram.

Ricketson said the bodies of Jashon and the others were taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta for autopsies.