Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard announced today that Christopher Alexander Miller has been convicted on all charges related to a shooting incident that resulted in the death of one-year-old Marcus Ball, Jr. The conviction follows a jury trial that concluded yesterday in Peach County.
On Thursday, May 1, 2025, after deliberating for a little less than an hour and a half, a Peach County jury found Miller guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault, and two counts of Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony for the shooting death of 23-month-old Marcus Ball Jr. and the shooting injury of his 12-month-old sister, Markailey Ball.
On July 20, 2022, Miller, acting in concert with other individuals, fired numerous shots toward Building D in the Lakeview Apartments in Fort Valley, during the course of a dispute with another person who lived in that building. One of those rounds entered the children’s bedroom, ripping through Markailey’s right arm and into the head of Marcus Ball Jr., while they were in the arms of their teenage sister.
Marcus Ball, Jr.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Wilson and Alveta Watkins, despite numerous challenges. Due to issues in the initial investigation, investigators with the District Attorney’s Office were required to take on a substantially more active role in the subsequent investigation conducted by the District Attorney’s Office. In the course of that investigation, our Office was often met with reluctant and fearful witnesses who were difficult to locate and to secure. In addition, six officers who testified are no longer with the original investigating agency. Two of the officers came as far as two hundred miles away to help achieve justice.
“The reckless disregard for human life demonstrated in this case will not be tolerated in our communities,” said District Attorney Howard. “When innocent children become victims of senseless gun violence, we will not rest until justice is served. Today’s conviction demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders accountable. The residents of Fort Valley deserve to live in safety, and we will continue to use every resource at our disposal and under the law to ensure that justice is served. Justice requires I do everything in my power and within the law to bring essential witnesses to court to hold violent offenders accountable, regardless of the obstacles they face such as fear, distance and uncertainty,” said Howard.
Miller was sentenced this morning to Life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years, delivering a measure of justice for the victim and the community.
The District Attorney appreciates the jurors, brave witnesses, her Team and the service of Judge Ken Smith who stepped in to oversee the trial of this case at the request of Judge Connie Williford.
