Americus leaders speak out, demand change after Eastview Apartment shooting that killed 5-year-old girl

AMERICUS, Ga. – Americus leaders are looking for change after the death of a 5-year-old this past weekend.

CBS 44’s Brian Roche sat down with one community leader about where they go from here.

As the Americus community recovers from the weekend violence that claimed the life of a five year old girl, we speak with one community leader about what needs to be done to prevent another tragedy.

This massive display of balloons is for 5-year-old Payton Roberts, who tragically lost her life after being hit by a stray bullet.

Sumter County NAACP Chapter President, Eugene Edge says this kind of violence that drags in young kids needs to stop.

“We were saddened, to say the least, that someone so young, innocent life was taken and what was possibly a dispute between two older people. So, we condemn it, condemned the acts of violence,” said Eugene Edge, President, Sumter Co. NAACP.

Payton wasn’t the only one killed in the crossfire, as a 19-year-old involved in the shooting succumbed to his injuries Monday.

Edge says that people in Sumter County and Americus need to start coming together.

“We got to start acting as a community. And, I think that approach to where we’re looking at what’s taking place with other people’s children, and we get involved. And, I think there’s a proactive approach to stopping some of the violence,” said Edge.

In addition to helping protect kids now, edge spoke with us about some ideas he wants Sumter County leadership to implement to protect kids from violence in the future…

But… Edge says it isn’t just reaching the kids who want peace.

“But, then again, there are those who do not come to those events that we put on. So, hopefully some time in the future we can get together and see what’s preventing those youths from attending the events that we have been putting on. So, and hopefully we can go from there,” said Edge.

Above all else, Edge says from his standpoint that preventing violence among kids and teens needs to start at home.

“But, it has to start at home as well. And, a lot of the problems, I think the parents are not really forcing some of the things that needs to be forced,” said Edge.

One suspect is in custody according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) though this is still an active investigation at this time.

Brian Roche reporting.

Copyright 2025 CBS 44 News South Georgia. All rights reserved.