On the night of March 6, 2024, at about 11 p.m., 29-year-old Markel Harper was riding in a car with a friend, 28-year-old Jaboris Terrell Cato, on the 1000 block of Radium Springs Road in Albany, Georgia, when another vehicle pulled alongside and its occupants opened fire. Harper was struck in the chest and later died at a local hospital; Cato was shot in the buttocks and survived.

Albany police quickly located a vehicle they believed was involved and arrested several people. Among those charged were 30-year-old Jason Lamar Gaines and 16-year-old Janarrian Oliver on murder, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy counts; 36-year-old Sir Robert Moss Jr. was charged with tampering with evidence and obstruction. Additional arrests followed, including 24-year-old Malik Frazier on murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. One person originally accused of murder, Tytianna Isaac, had that charge reduced to misdemeanor obstruction for withholding information.

Prosecutors described the shooting as a targeted, gang-affiliated ambush in which the attackers were allegedly searching for Harper’s brother. In March 2026 a jury convicted Jason Gaines, Malik Frazier, and Janarrian Oliver of murder and related felonies; in April 2026 a judge sentenced each to life with the possibility of parole plus five years.

If anyone knew Markel Harper or has information about the night of March 6, 2024, please share what can help the investigation and the family.