GBI still seeking information on 2021 homecoming block party shooting that left man dead in Fort Valley

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is still seeking information about a shooting that left 27-year-old Tyler French dead in 2021.

UPDATE (12/6/23): The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is still seeking information about a shooting that left 27-year-old Tyler French dead in 2021.

The GBI asks that anyone with information call the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at (478) 987-4545 or the Fort Valley Police Department at (478) 825-3383. Anonymous tips can be made via the GBI Tip line at 1-800-597-8477 or on the GBI’s website: https://investigative-gbi.georgia.gov/gbi-tip-line, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

ORIGINAL STORY (10/25/21):

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is seeking information following a Saturday morning shooting in Fort Valley that left one person dead and seven others injured.

Jacquez Harrison, a student at Fort Valley State University, says he attended an off campus homecoming party on Carver Drive Friday night where eight people were shot. Harrison says he left about an hour before the shooting and that the shooting was unexpected.

“The Ques decided to have a little block party like they do every year, and so a shooting happened,” he said. “Which no one wished would happen, but you know, it happens.”

Fort Valley Police asked the GBI to help with the investigation.

According to GBI Public and Governmental Affairs Director Nelly Miles, the shooting happened around 1:50 a.m. Saturday. Seven of the shooting victims were taken to a local hospital. Miles says they are in stable condition.

“The person that died, he was later identified as Tyler French,” Miles said. “He’s 27 years old and he’s from Byron, Georgia.”

The shooting led to the cancellation of FVSU’s homecoming parade.

“We all should pray for the young man’s family that was killed,” Mayor Barbara Williams. “We all should pray for the students that were traumatized as a result of that, and this too shall pass.”

Miles says the GBI’s main focus at this point is identifying the person or persons responsible for the shooting.

If anyone knows anything about what happened, they should contact police.

“One way you can do that is by downloading the see-send app and you can submit anonymous tips that way,” Miles said. “You can also go through the traditional 911 route as well.”

Fort Valley State University released a statement clarifying that the shooting victim, Tyler French, was not an FVSU student. Some of the injured, however, were students.

The Office of Student Counseling and Outreach Services is offering counseling for students. Students can call the office at 478-825-6278 or 1-833-855-0085.