🌱 18-Year-Old Shot In Macon + Domestic Violence Shootings Increase

Hey, neighbors! It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Macon Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Breezy with a gusty t-storm. High: 82 Low: 47.
• Sunday: Nice with clouds and sun. High: 74 Low: 49.

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Here are the top three stories today in Macon:

1. On Friday, Mar. 31, at around 1:30 p.m., an 18-year-old was shot in the 4500 block of Pinedale Drive near Bloomfield Drive and Rocky Creek Road in south Macon. As of Mar. 31, the teen was listed in critical condition at a local hospital. (13WMAZ.com)
2. On Wednesday night, Mar. 29, 37-year-old Christopher Rachalla was shot and killed while trying to help a woman who was fighting with her boyfriend. In Bibb County, this is the third domestic violence case that led to a shooting in less than three weeks. Crisis Line & Safe House Shelter Director, Suzanne Walker, said the organization has seen a large increase in domestic violence cases in the last five years, specifically in Bibb County. (13WMAZ.com)
3. People who use the parking garage located at 427 Poplar Street in Macon are unhappy. The customers pay for a place to park that has no working gate, no security, no way to contact management, and no way to get the security camera footage. According to customers, the garage is full of non-paying people parking there because of the broken gate, which leaves little space for paying customers to park. (wgxa.tv)

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Today and tomorrow in Macon:

Saturday, April 1

• 4th Annual Little Richard Festival At The Little Richard House (2:00 PM)
• Leanne Morgan: Just Getting Started At Macon City Auditorium (7:00 PM)

Sunday, April 2

• Knoxville Ice Bears at Macon Mayhem At Macon Coliseum (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Bibb County deputies are investigating a crash involving a Macon Transit Authority bus and a Jeep in the area of 5th Street and Poplar in downtown Macon on Mar. 31. According to reports, there were only two minor injuries. (wgxa.tv)
• Bibb deputies are looking for burglary suspect James Rouse. The 57-year-old is wanted for several burglaries as well as criminal trespass warrants. View the link to see a picture of Rouse. (wgxa.tv)
• The Happy Days gang, a litter of Labrador Retriever Pointer Mix puppies, is up for adoption! The nine tiny puppies will be ready to go home with their forever families in mid-April. View the link to see the Happy Days gang and more adoptable pets in the Macon area. (Macon Patch)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!