Former council member addresses shooting death in Lanett
BY JOHN BRICE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LANETT — Shock and despair were widely felt in the Lanett community in the aftermath of an act of gun violence that took the life of 51-year-old resident Tommy Boyd Jr. in Lanett on Tuesday, May 12.
According to the police report, the shooting occurred near the intersection of Cherry Drive and North 10th Avenue, where Boyd was found and pronounced dead at the scene. A statement was requested by Lanett Police Chief Denise McCain and Council Member for District 1 Denise Zachery, but they were unable to comment before the press deadline.
Former Lanett Council Member for District 1 Tony Malone, who held that office up until November 2025, shared his insights on the tragedy.
"The most important thing is if you see something that is not right don't be afraid to say something, it is not actually snitching," he said. "I think that we have a low amount of officers on the force. When I served on the city council, it was very important for us to try to increase it. Instead of it increasing, it has decreased. The presence of police officers is not visible in the community, and I think we need more, that would definitely dilute some of the crime in our city."
Malone addressed the nature of the homicide.
"From my understanding, this individual just went to the corner store and was on his way back home," he said. "He was an innocent person. It could have been anybody walking. He got targeted. He wasn't part of any gang, he was an innocent bystander. His family was waiting for him to come back home, and he was gunned down."
Malone said it is important for community members to take advantage of the tight-knit nature of the community in Lanett to solve this crime and prevent future crimes.
"In the community, everybody knows everybody," he said. "We are not New York or Washington. Usually we have family members, our kids, nieces and nephews that hang out with different people. We need to be more involved and ask more questions when you see something that is not right. People nowadays see something and they just turn their heads. Don't wait for it to happen to your family."
Malone also said it is important for locals to work with the youth to reduce future crime.
"Some years ago in this area here in Chambers County we had a problem with youth," he said. "That is why we started the Boys and Girls Club because we had to provide them a positive place to go. Instead of them being in the streets after school in the summer just running crazy. We don't have that right now so this summer it is going backwards. It is going back to the younger age because there is nothing for them to do. Idle minds bring problems."
Malone concluded by stressing the importance of the Lanett Police Department building trust with the community by demonstrating their commitment to safety.
"What will ease the community too is the solving of other murders that are on the books," he said. "That is putting distrust in the community. People say, 'we have got five already that we haven't solved.' We can't let this particular one go untouched. All of them are very important. No police department can solve crimes without the community. You have got to have it. If you don't have the trust of the community, you are not going to solve any crimes. Maybe that is why we have things on the books now that have not been solved. If you don't have that trust, you can't investigate because nobody is going to talk to you."
