Life Sentence Handed Down in Macon Nightclub Shooting That Killed Security Guard

MACON, Ga. – A Bibb County jury sentenced a 23-year-old card dealer to life in prison after finding him guilty of murdering a nightclub security guard during a confrontation that prosecutors said spiraled from a minor dispute into fatal gunfire.

Andrew Mullis was convicted January 7, 2026, on four counts, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, in the shooting death of 42-year-old Dedrick Lamont Bulls. The jury’s verdict marked Bibb County’s first trial of 2026. Mullis was sentenced to life in prison plus five consecutive years.

The shooting occurred on December 12, 2022, outside the Full House Tavern Nightclub on Bloomfield Road. Prosecutors said Mullis, who worked as a card dealer at the club, had been told to leave after drinking too much but remained outside the building, continuing to drink and socialize with staff and patrons.

Testimony showed Bulls, a security guard at the club, was talking about boxing with his nephew when Mullis inserted himself into the conversation, claiming his brother was also a boxer. After being brushed off, Mullis called his brother, who was known to Bulls, and attempted to continue the discussion by phone.

According to evidence presented at trial, Bulls approached Mullis and reached for the phone to speak with Mullis’s brother. Mullis abruptly pulled the phone away and produced a firearm. Bulls appeared confused and knocked the phone out of Mullis’s hand. Mullis then raised the gun and shot Bulls in the face. Bulls died five days later from his injuries.

During an immunity hearing in April 2024, Mullis testified he acted out of fear for his life, citing alleged threats and bullying throughout the night. At trial, his account changed, with Mullis claiming he felt threatened only in the moment of the shooting. Prosecutors said both versions were contradicted by witness testimony, which indicated that Bulls and others at the nightclub were not aggressive toward Mullis.

“Mr. Mullis spent hours socializing peacefully with the victim, only to pull a gun and shoot him in the face over a trivial dispute,” said Anita Howard. “This senseless act of violence took a father, a friend, and a valued member of our community.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Chief Jeremy B. Johnson and Assistant Deputy Chief Alveta Watkins. Investigators credited Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tony Moss with identifying key witnesses and securing critical evidence that helped lead to the conviction.