Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public Help in Locating Person of Interest in Fatal Pedestrian Collision

UPDATE: On October 15, 2024, at 7:20 p.m., John Paul Battle Jr. turned himself over to investigators. He was transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center. John Battle Jr. faces charges of Homicide by Vehicle/Leaving the scene. This incident is still under investigation.

Original post:

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance in locating 40-year-old John Paul Battle Jr. of Macon, a person of interest in a fatal pedestrian collision that claimed the life of three-year-old Royal Rhodes. The incident occurred early Monday morning, October 14, 2024, in the 3900 block of Riverside Drive.

John Paul Battle Jr. is described as a black male, medium build, standing 5’10” tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or the Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

Incident Details:
Deputies responded to a call at 3:58 a.m. regarding a missing person at a hotel in the 3900 block of Riverside Drive. During their investigation, deputies discovered a nearby unresponsive child, identified as three-year-old Royal Rhodes. Investigators determined the child had been struck by an unknown vehicle. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by Deputy Coroner Richard Robinson.