BARNESVILLE– A seemingly ordinary Sunday evening in the town of Barnesville took a grim turn when 17-year-old Hakim Wellmaker was found shot multiple times on Matthews Street.
After receiving an emergency call at about 6:25 p.m., Lamar County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Barnesville Police officers rushed to the scene. Despite being transported to the hospital, Wellmaker succumbed to his injuries.
The two juveniles are now in custody at the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, facing felony murder charges. The GBI has yet to release further details about the suspects, but confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Barnesville Police Department at 770-358-1234 or the GBI regional investigative office in Milledgeville at 478-445-4173. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through a toll-free line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or via the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be transferred to the Towaliga District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Correction: Earlier information from the GBI regarding the location where Wellmaker was shot has been corrected.
