DA: Fatal shooting by deputy ‘legally justified’

Published 1:51 pm Tuesday, May 20, 2025

EATONTON, Ga. – The fatal officer-involved shooting of a Macon man by a Jones County deputy early last Friday was declared legally justified Monday by Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney T. Wright Barksdale III.

The D.A.’s legal opinion follows an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting incident by Putnam County Sheriff Howard R. Sills. The veteran sheriff was asked by Jones County Sheriff R.N. “Butch” Reece to look into the deadly shooting that claimed the life of 54-year-old Ronald R. Evans of Macon.

“I reviewed the investigation that was conducted, and I did that today (Monday),” Barksdale told reporters during a Monday afternoon press conference held at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in Eatonton. “I sent a letter to Sheriff Reece today as well as Sheriff Sills, informing them that I had reviewed all pertinent information as to the unfortunate events that occurred. I’ve expressed to Sheriff Reece that this was a clean shoot. This justified use of force. And I have no intentions of presenting this to a grand jury in Jones County. It’s a sad situation and it speaks to the dangers that our deputies are faced with every day and how quickly it can turn deadly.”

Barksdale commended Jones County Deputy Sgt. Travis Walker for taking the quick actions that he took.

“Quite frankly, it’s my belief that he saved Deputy Richard Langston’s life that night,” Barksdale said.

Having reviewed the pertinent aspects of the officer-involved shooting and death of Evans, Barksdale told Reece in his letter that it was his legal opinion that Walker was legally justified in using deadly force to save the life of fellow Deputy Langston.

“The body and in-car cameras clearly show Ronald Evans draw a firearm and point said firearm at Deputy Langston,” Barksdale said. “In response, Sgt. Walker fired multiple rounds from his service weapon in an effort to remove the deadly threat faced by your deputies. Please, let this writing serve as the district attorney’s formal stance. I have no intention to present this case to the Jones County grand jury. The deputies demonstrated their training, skill and professionalism when faced with the most difficult of situations.”

Evans was seated on the driver’s side of a Jeep Wrangler that had pulled up close to the C & J Store off Georgia Route 49 not far from the Jones-Bibb County line when he suddenly pointed a loaded Taurus 9 mm semi-automatic pistol directly at Langston.

Sills said Langston was running towards the Jeep at the time and was unaware that Evans was pointing a loaded handgun at him. As soon as Walker saw Evans pointing the gun at Langston, he immediately responded with gunfire from his service-issued weapon. The gunshots came in succession and were only fired by Walker.

Evans, who wore a prosthetic leg on the left side, fell from the doorless Jeep to the pavement below.

Sills said Evans never got off a shot.

By that time, a third deputy arrived on the scene. Sills identified him as Deputy Jared Marcam, who attempted to render medical aid to Evans but could not because he died at the scene.

Sills explained that Evans was in the condition of what he described as a forcible felony, using deadly force that’s likely to cause the death or serious injury to Deputy Langston.

“And at that point in time, Sgt. Walker fired, which is authorized under Georgia law,” Sills said.

Reporters who attended the press conference saw dash cam, in-car and body cam video of the incidents leading up to the officer-involved fatal shooting. They also were given copies of those videos, including one of which was the audio portion of a brief conversation between Evans and Walker earlier at the South Recreation Park in Jones County.

The time of that encounter was 1:22 a.m. last Friday.

Walker was on routine patrol along Ga. Rt. 49 at the time.

“Now, there are about a half-dozen different videos,” Sills said. “There’s car cameras from three different cars in this incident and there’s body camera from three.”

The sheriff showed reporters one of which revealed the entire incident.

“And it shows it better than all of the others,” Sills said.

Walker saw Evans drive his Jeep Wrangler and briefly park it before he turned on his blue lights to inquire about why Evans was in the park at that time.

“Alright, what you got going on tonight,” Walker asked Evans twice as the supervisor deputy gets out of his SUV patrol vehicle and walks toward Evans who is sitting in his Jeep.

The body cam, which was played later provided the exchange of words further between both Walker and Evans.

A short time later, Evans puts the Jeep in reverse and then drives off after being asked for his driver’s license.

Meanwhile, Walker gave chase with his blue lights and siren and notified an E911 dispatcher that he was involved in what he called “a 10-80,” which means a pursuit in law enforcement code in Georgia.

Sills said the pursuit only lasted a few minutes.

The body cam was then played for reporters.

The sheriff, who was aided in the officer-involved shooting probe by investigative staff members with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, said the preliminary autopsy report revealed that Evans died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

“Obviously, the head wound was probably the fatal wound,” Sills said.

The autopsy was performed at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Middle Georgia Crime Laboratory in Dry Branch.

Sills said he had talked with members of Evans’ family, who indicated Evans had a long history of mental illness.