By Beth Alston

AMERICUS — A third and fourth suspect have been taken into custody and charged in a Aug. 1 shooting death on Mask Road.
Sumter County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy, Col. Eric Bryant confirmed Friday that two men were apprehended Thursday evening and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. They are Jaylen T. Leverette, 18, of Americus, and a 16-year-old male juvenile, also of Americus. The adult is being housed in the Sumter County Jail while the juvenile is being held in the Sumter County Youth Detention Center.
While investigating the incident in which Leverette and the juvenile are accused of shooting from a vehicle into a residence at 745 Mask Road, in Greystone trailer park, information was obtained leading to their apprehension.
Two other suspects, a father and son, also remain in jail without bond in the shooting death. On Aug. 2, Christopher Shane Hale, 38, of 745 Mask Road, Americus turned himself in to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. He is charged with aggravated assault and felony murder. On Friday, Hale’s son, Christopher Shane Hale Jr., 18, of the same address, turned himself in to authorities and is charged with the same crimes as his father.
Killed in the crossfire was Jarvis Willis, 32, of 102 Sandstone Drive, Americus, whose body was discovered in the roadway at Greystone mobile home park between 11:30 and 11:45 p.m. Bryant told the Times-Recorder that Willis apparently walked to where the shooting was occurring and was caught in the gunfire.
Bryant said the investigation, which is ongoing, is being conducted by the Region 3 Americus Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the sheriff’s investigative division.
He also said other suspects are being sought by authorities and urges anyone with information to call the GBI Office at 229-931-2439 or Sgt. Matthew Holloway at the sheriff’s office at 229-924-4094.
“We believe there are more young people out there playing around with guns, and we want to keep on until we get them all off the streets,” Bryant said.