On December 15, 2020, just after 4:00 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of Riverside Drive and Red Oak Drive in reference to a report of an attempted armed carjacking. While checking the area for the suspect, he was spotted and led deputies in a brief foot chase and struggle.  The male was detained and checked out by EMS. The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Ja’Qwaray Javon Hollingshed, of Macon. 

 Hollingshed was also wanted in connection to the Homicide Investigation of 49-year-old Romero Gonzalez.

Hollingshed was transported to the Criminal Investigation Division and interviewed. After the interview Hollingshed was transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center and is being held on charges of murder , two counts of armed robbery, willful obstruction of a law-enforcement officer and aggravated assault. He is being held without bond at this time.

The original media releases for the Riverbend incident are attached below.

This incident is still under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

December 5, 2020

Update :Arrest Made in Riverbend Apartments Investigation

On December 4, 2020, at 4:16 p.m., 21-year-old Devin Courtney Smiley, of Macon, turned himself over to deputes in connection to the Homicide Investigation of 49-year-old Romero Gonzalez.

Smiley is being held on charges of Murder and Party to a Crime, he is being held without bond at this time.

The original media releases are attached below.

This incident is still under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

Update: Arrest Made in Riverbend Apartments Homicide Investigation

Bibb County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested a male in connection to the Homicide Investigation of 49-year-old Romero Gonzalez.

As investigators continued to work on the homicide investigation of Romero Gonzalez, new evidence evolved. Sheriff’s investigators discovered that several males were gathered near Gonzalez’s vehicle. One of the males approached Gonzalez, robbed him, and then shot him. Afterwards, the male met back up with the other males and then they quickly fled the scene. Perez was sitting inside of the vehicle when the incident occurred, but left shortly after Gonzalez was shot.

Originally, 37-year-old Guadalupe Hernandez Perez was taken into custody for the Homicide of Romero Gonzalez. Perez was charged after he was interviewed by investigators. During the interview, Perez made several false statements to investigators about the incident and he also claimed that he was not in the vehicle when Gonzalez was shot. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Perez was sitting inside of the vehicle when the incident occurred, but left, shortly after Gonzalez was shot. Based on probable cause, at the time of the incident, Perez was taken into custody for Gonzalez’s homicide.

Due to the new information and evidence that was discovered by investigators, they worked with the District Attorney’s Office and requested for the Murder charge against Perez to be dropped.  Perez is still in custody at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center for an unrelated charge. Perez has a hold by U.S. Immigration.

 Investigators identified 22-year-old Jamal DeShawn Roundtree as one of the males that was gathered near the vehicle when the homicide and robbery occurred. Roundtree was interviewed by investigators and later taken into custody. Roundtree was transported to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and is currently being held, without bond, for the charges of Homicide and Party to a Crime.

The original media releases are attached below.

This incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

November 23, 2020

Arrest Made in Riverbend Apartments Homicide

Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigators along with patrol deputies responded to a death that was reported at the Riverbend Apartments, located at 3645 Mercer University Drive. The incident was called in just after 7:06 PM. 

It was reported that deputies responded to a call of a person down ,that came into the Bibb County E-911 call center. When deputies arrived on scene, they found a male suffering from a gunshot wound laying outside his vehicle. The male, later identified as 49-year-old Romero Gonzalez, was transported to the Navicent Health Center where he was later pronounced dead.  After further investigation it was discovered that Romero Gonzalez was involved in an altercation with 37-year-old Guadalupe Hernandez Perez. During the altercation Perez presented a gun and shot Gonzalez. Perez was taken into custody and transported to the Criminal Investigation Unit to be interviewed. After the interview Perez was transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center and charged with Murder. Perez does not have a bond.

This incident is still under investigation.  

 The next of kin was notified by the coroner’s office.  

Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

November 22, 2020

Homicide Investigation at Riverbend Apartments

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death that was reported at the Riverbend Apartments, located at 3645 Mercer University Drive. The incident was called in just after 7:06 PM. 

It was reported that deputies responded to a call of a person down, that came into Bibb County Sheriff Office call center. When deputies arrived on scene, they found a male suffering from a gunshot wound laying outside his vehicle. The male was transported to the Navicent Health Center where he was later pronounced dead.  Investigators are continuing to investigate this incident in an attempt to determine the events surrounding this incident. 

The victim’s name will be released once next of kin has been notified.  Additional information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.