Evens Jean Baptiste, 67, was killed by a stray bullet in his Fort Valley, Georgia, apartment in the early hours of June 16, 2026. Baptiste was in bed at the Lakeview Apartments on Edwards Street when gunfire erupted in the breezeway outside shortly after midnight; a projectile penetrated his home and fatally wounded him. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m. Neighbors said he had recently moved into the complex and had some difficulty with mobility.

The Fort Valley Police Department secured the scene and requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which has taken the lead. As of the most recent reports, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified and no arrests have been announced. Anyone who was near the Lakeview Apartments around midnight on June 16 or who has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.