On the morning of May 7, 2021, a walker in Macon’s Unionville neighborhood found the body of 26-year-old Amond Rashad Norwood under a mattress at the end of Churchill Street. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office determined Norwood had multiple gunshot wounds and that the place he was discovered was not where the shooting occurred.

Investigators identified and arrested three men in connection with the killing. Margaton Achilles Dudley, 45, was arrested and charged with murder and concealing the death of another. Jerome Dewayne Beasley, 28, turned himself in and faced the same charges. Damian Devonta Felton Sr., 26, was also charged. Authorities allege a fight during a dice game led to Beasley shooting Norwood and that the three then tried to burn the body before leaving it under the mattress.

The case has since been linked to further violence in the community. In May 2022 Damian Felton was shot and killed at his Harold Street home less than 12 hours after being released on bond. Two days later Norwood’s half-brother, Orondo Cortez Clark, was fatally shot; investigators said Clark’s death may have been retaliation. As of May 2023 Dudley and Beasley were indicted and awaiting trial and had been released on bond. If anyone knew Norwood or has information about these events, please come forward.