Four arrested in Quitman slaying

Malynda Fulton, The Valdosta Daily Times

June 01, 2009 10:41 pm

— QUITMAN — Four Quitman residents have been arrested and charged in connection with the Saturday night murder of a Quitman teen.
Quitman police have arrested Willie C. Phelps, 33, and charged him with murder, according to a press release from the Quitman Police Department. Authorities also arrested Kenneth Williams, 17, Kenneth Brinson, 39, and a 16-year-old juvenile and charged them with party to the commission of a crime, the release states.
Phelps, Williams and Brinson are being held at Brooks County Jail. The juvenile was transported to Thomasville Regional Youth Detention Center. Additional charges are pending in this case.
“We appreciate the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation,” said Quitman Police Chief Wesley Ross.
The suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of 19-year-old Christopher Deshad “Chris” Sloan. According to the release, the four suspects went to Westwind Apartments off of Hill Street around 11 p.m. Saturday looking for an individual who had been involved in an altercation with a relative of the suspects earlier that day. An argument took place between the suspects and the victim at the complex, and a shot was fired as several people left the area. Sloan was hit by the gunfire.
Sloan was transported to South Georgia Medical Center where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, Ross said. The suspects and the weapon used during the shooting were taken into custody the next morning.
Funeral arrangements for Sloan are being handled by Stevens-McGhee Funeral Home in Quitman. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.