Fort Valley man’s murder charges dropped from 2025 fatal shooting due to insufficient evidence

FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Murder charges against a Fort Valley man have been dropped after prosecutors cited insufficient evidence to tie him to a fatal shooting from August 2025.

Justin Jaleel Clark, 25 years old, was previously arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on Aug. 14 on murder and firearm charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a New Jersey resident, Devonte Denzell McMillian, 30 years old, on Aug. 30, 2025. 

McMillian succumbed to gunshot wounds after Fort Valley police officers found him injured at the 500 block of Hinton Street. 

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. 

Court records from the Macon Judicial Circuit’s office state that the warrants for Clark were sought after “against advice from the DA’s Office.” The documents further state that the GBI did not provide a case file to the Peach County Office, which is responsible for this case.

According to court records, as there was no case file from the lead agent and that the “evidence reviewed by the office was insufficient,” the State “could not ethically request the court to deny bond for Clark.”

The Macon Judicial Circuit said that the GBI is continuing to investigate. If, and when, additional evidence is turned over from the GBI, the case will be re-evaluated.