In a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing search for four escaped inmates from a Georgia jail, officers on Monday discovered a murder suspect who had been missing for over seven months. Acting on a tip regarding the escapees, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force went to a Macon apartment where they were met with gunfire upon knocking on the door. The sheriff's office confirmed that no officers fired their weapons, and it was determined that the wounded man, Christian Demond Williams, had shot himself. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

Christian Williams had been missing since March 5, the day before he was scheduled to stand trial for a murder that took place at a Macon convenience store in 2021. Surveillance footage from that night showed Williams being attacked by two individuals on the front porch of his home. Both Bibb County Sheriff David Davis and District Attorney Anita Howard expressed skepticism about Williams' alleged kidnapping, citing suspicious circumstances surrounding his disappearance. Notably, the battery on Williams' electronic ankle monitor had malfunctioned, and the bail bonding company failed to notify authorities or instruct Williams to recharge it.

Following the discovery of Williams, officers arrested Mykia Mynesha Williams, who was present in the apartment, and charged her with aiding an escape. It remains unclear whether she is related to Christian Williams or if she has legal representation. The investigation into Christian Williams' possible involvement with the escaped inmates is ongoing.

The search for the four escapees - Joey Fournier, Marc Kerry Anderson, Johnifer Dernard Barnwell, and Chavis Demaryo Stokes - continues to be the "singular focus" of the sheriff's department. In their efforts to locate the inmates, authorities found a blue Dodge Challenger, believed to be connected to the escape, abandoned in a Macon supermarket parking lot. Video footage indicated that the vehicle had been near the jail earlier in the night and showed someone tampering with the fence. Investigators suspect that items brought into the enclosed area were used to facilitate the escape.

Sheriff David Davis emphasized his department's commitment to apprehending the escapees, assuring them, "We're going to get you. We're going to find you." A combined reward of $73,000 has been offered for information leading to the capture of the inmates. The sheriff's office, FBI, Macon Regional Crime Stoppers, and the U.S. Marshals Service have collectively contributed to the reward.

The escaped inmates are described as follows: Joey Fournier, a 52-year-old white male with gray hair and blue eyes, standing at 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds; Marc Kerry Anderson, a 24-year-old Black male with dreadlocks, measuring 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 165 pounds, facing charges of aggravated assault; Johnifer Dernard Barnwell, a 37-year-old Black male with braids, standing at 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, held on federal drug charges; and Chavis Demaryo Stokes, a 29-year-old Black male with short black hair, measuring 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, facing charges of possession of a firearm and drug trafficking.

Authorities urge anyone with information on the inmates' possible whereabouts to report it to the FBI's tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED2. Tips can also be submitted online through the FBI's website or the U.S. Marshals Service Tips App.