Poulan Man Arrested for Christmas Eve Shooting That Killed Neighbor

Poulan, GA – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested 36-year-old William Travis Yerby in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred on Christmas Eve in Poulan, Georgia. Yerby faces charges of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.

The Poulan Police Department requested assistance from the GBI following reports of a shooting at a residence in the 200 block of Melanie Lane on the evening of December 24, 2025. Officers learned that 45-year-old George Christopher Cummings had been shot during the incident. Cummings was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Yerby was apprehended by the GBI on December 25 and booked into the Dougherty County Jail by the Worth County Sheriff’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled to be conducted at the GBI Central Laboratory to determine the official cause of death.

Authorities say the investigation remains active, and additional details may be released as the case develops.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Sylvesterat 229-777-2080 or the Poulan Police Department at 229-776-4096. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. 

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to Tift Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.