Barnesville man arrested for fatal shooting over driving dispute

BARNESVILLE, Ga. - A Barnesville man has been charged with felony murder after allegedly shooting his neighbor following a confrontation over reckless driving.

What we know:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested Jacob Benjamin Craft, 42, of Barnesville, charging him with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. The charges stem from a fatal shooting that occurred on Warner Road in Barnesville during the early hours of Feb. 4.

According to investigators, around 1 a.m., Lamar County 911 received two calls reporting that Willie Floyd Perdue, 55, had been shot multiple times. Deputies responding to the scene found Perdue critically injured. He was initially transported to Upson Regional Hospital and later transferred to Atrium Navient in Macon, GA, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The backstory:

The investigation revealed that Craft was reportedly driving erratically on the street where Perdue lived. When Perdue confronted Craft about his reckless driving, Craft exited his vehicle and shot Perdue multiple times. Craft was subsequently arrested and is currently being held at the Lamar County Jail.

What's next:

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Once it is completed, the case file will be forwarded to the Towaliga Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

What you can do:

Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact the GBI regional investigative office in Milledgeville at 478-445-4173. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at GBI Submit Tips, or through the "See Something, Send Something" mobile app.