Justice for Marcus: Toddler’s Life Stolen in His Own Home
FORT VALLEY, GA — The heart of a community aches as two men, Jabari Thomas and Wontazious Bivins, have been convicted for the 2022 killing of 13-month-old Marcus Ball Jr., a tragedy that unfolded inside the safety of his own bedroom. In the same burst of violence, Marcus’s cousin, 12-month-old Markailey Ball, was wounded after a bullet pierced her tiny shoulder.
Prosecutors revealed that the July 2022 shooting was the result of a dispute between the men and another resident of the Lakeview Apartments. In a reckless act, the defendants opened fire toward the building. One bullet shattered the peace of the children’s bedroom — striking Markailey before fatally wounding Marcus. Despite the desperate efforts of responding officers, Marcus’s life could not be saved.
A Painful Trial and Relentless Pursuit of Justice
The courtroom was heavy with grief during the week-long trial that led to Friday’s convictions. Witnesses and police officers traveled across Georgia to testify, recounting the chaotic night and the heartbreaking aftermath. District Attorney Anita Howard, representing the Macon Judicial Circuit and Peach County, spoke with resolve:
“When innocent babies become victims of reckless gun violence in their own homes, my prosecutors will overcome the toughest challenges to secure justice.”
Thomas and Bivins were found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Additionally, Bivins was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. This verdict comes months after the third accomplice, Christopher Miller, was convicted for the same murder in May 2025.
The sentencing date has not yet been set, but both men face life in prison without the possibility of parole — a penalty reflecting the depth of the crime and the irreplaceable life it stole.
A Community Demands Change
The killing of Marcus Ball Jr. has left an emotional scar on Fort Valley. Neighbors recall the sound of gunfire, the flashing emergency lights, and the image of officers cradling a wounded child. For many, this tragedy underscores the urgent need to confront reckless gun violence and ensure that no other family endures such pain.
Markailey, now recovering from her injuries, serves as a living reminder of the night her cousin’s life was taken. Her survival is a blessing, but the loss of Marcus is a wound that will never fully heal for his family.
As the legal chapter closes, the emotional one remains — a daily reminder that gun violence leaves behind far more than headlines. It robs futures, shatters families, and forces communities to ask how many more children must be buried before real change takes root.
Marcus’s name will not be forgotten. His short life will be remembered not just for the tragedy of its end, but for the light and joy he brought in the months he was here.
