JONES COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Investigators with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office have tied the suspects in a Jones County armed robbery and a home invasion that took place in January to a Bibb County homicide that happened in the same time frame.
Terrell Eugene Mills, 40, was arrested Jan. 27 and remains in custody at the Jones County Law Enforcement Center. He is charged with armed robbery, home invasion first degree, possession of firearm by convicted felon or first offender, possession of firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, two counts of cruelty to children first degree-maliciously causing excessive pain, cruelty to children first degree deprivation of sustenance, possession of marijuana with intent, six counts of aggravated assault, and five counts of armed robbery.
Capt. Kenny Allen with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office said in a Feb. 3 interview that similar warrants have been issued for Shaun Mills, 38, and he is currently being sought by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Allen said there were a total of five suspects in the armed robbery and three, possibly four involved in the home invasion. He said investigators are working to identify those remaining suspects.
“We think we have them identified but we don’t have the warrants yet,” he commented.
The captain said Terrell and Shaun Mills were linked to the crimes through videos and phone records.
JCSO Investigator John Simmons said the Jones County armed robbery and Bibb County murder took place within two hours of each other, and the same stolen car was used in the two crimes.
The home invasion was committed Jan. 12.
A Jan. 23 media release from the office of Bibb County Sheriff David Davis described the homicide and asked for help in locating the offenders. The release stated the vehicle involved in the Jan. 21 homicide of Pinalkumar Patel was a dark fourdoor, and the victim was shot in his driveway about 11 p.m.
“It was reported that Mr. Patel and his family were arriving home from work when the family was confronted by three masked individuals with guns. Mr. Patel confronted the three, and while doing so, shots were fired at the family. The three masked individuals then ran to a dark-incolor vehicle waiting across the street, occupied by a fourth person. The individuals then fled the scene. No items were reported to have been taken from the family.”
It was later stated that Mills was in custody in Jones County and was being charged in Bibb County with felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
The victim’s wife and daughter were also injured in the shooting.
The Bibb County arrest warrant included information that a video was discovered with a description of how Mills’ crew followed the victims’ van before the shooting.
Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece announced the crimes and Mills’ arrest in a Feb. 1 Facebook post. He said the Jan. 12 home invasion occurred in the Kingsview Village area. He said several armed males forced their way into a home occupied by a mother and three of her children.
Reece said several armed males committed an armed robbery at the 49er Mart on Shurling Drive Jan. 20. He added that thankfully no one was injured in either incident.
“Our investigators worked diligently on both cases and were able to determine they were committed by the same individuals. Warrants have been secured at this time for Terrell Mills and Shaun Mills, both of Macon. Terrell Mills was taken into custody Friday and remains in custody at the Jones County jail.”
Reece expressed his thanks to the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation.
The sheriff said, during the investigation into Terrell Mills, it was discovered he had been arrested three times – each time for violent offenses involving firearms. Mills was sentenced to prison for voluntary manslaughter in 2003, for aggravated assault involving a firearm in 2015 and his third arrest came in 2019, again for aggravated assault involving a firearm.
“Mills is on parole supervision and was released from prison in September of 2022. Unfortunately for the citizens of both Jones and Bibb Counties, he has been very busy during that time. It appears that criminal justice reform isn’t really working in this case,” Reece added.
