15-year-old youth with local ties murdered in Valdosta

Authorities have identified a 15-year-old youth who died as the result of a shooting on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Valdosta as Wesley White Jr. of Hahira.

Wesley was a Lowndes High School student, and he was employed at Circlestone Country Club in Adel. Friends, family members, and coworkers have described Wesley as a well-mannered young man with a good work ethic and potential for a bright future.

Barnes & Greer Funeral Services of Adel announced final arrangements. Visitation will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, May 31, at Kingdom Builders Deliverance Center in Remerton. The celebration of life will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Kingdom Builders Deliverance Center. A complete obituary was not available earlier this week. 

The Valdosta Police Department gave the following account of the homicide case:

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, at approximately 11:48 p.m., Valdosta Police Officers responded to a parking lot at Scott Park, 1101 block of Old Statenville Road, after a citizen called E911 to report a shooting. When officers arrived, they located an unresponsive 15-year-old male lying alone in the parking lot with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers attempted life-saving measures until Emergency Medical Services arrived. The juvenile was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded and were conducting the investigation.

Investigation has revealed that this is an isolated incident.

“My heart breaks for the family and friends of this young male, who was taken from his family at such a young age,” said Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan. “Unfortunately, they were alerted to the death of their loved one through social media. Before law enforcement can make notifications to a family, we have processes that we must follow, along with providing resources to assist these families. The insensitivity of someone posting a tragic situation that affects others is unexplainable.” 

On Monday, May 20, 2024, detectives obtained arrest warrants for three individuals who have been identified in connection to this homicide. The following individuals were wanted for felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony:

• Jamar Rashad Wimbush, 17 years of age, Valdosta resident;

• Tyrell Bolden, 17 years of age, Valdosta resident; and

• Lutravis Hester, 16 years of age, Valdosta resident.

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at approximately 6:30 p.m., detectives received information that all three offenders were possibly in an apartment in the 800 block of West Mary Street. Members of the Valdosta Police Department, with the assistance of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, located Bolden and Hester inside an apartment, and they were taken into custody without incident.  

On Thursday, May 23, 2024, at approximately 7  a.m., Valdosta Police Department Detectives received information that Wimbush had turned himself in at the Lowndes County Jail.

This investigation is still ongoing, and further charges may be pending.

“We are grateful for the assistance from the Tifton Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Ocilla Police Department, Irwin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, throughout the investigation,” Chief Manahan said. “The teamwork between these agencies has been incredible, and an example of how we all work together to ensure we get dangerous offenders out of our communities. I am continuously proud of the non-stop work of our detectives to conduct thorough investigations for our victims.”

If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.