On March 14, 2025, a Polk County jury returned a guilty verdict against Randy McClarity for malice murder, felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of terroristic threats and other gun charges. Superior Court Judge Andrew Roper presided over the trial and will sentence McClarity on April 30, 2025.
Assistant District Attorney Kaleigh Carter Mull and Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Alison Karch prosecuted the case on behalf off the State. The lead law enforcement officers on the case were Kevin Young of the Cedartown Police Department and Ghee Wilson of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
The evidence presented at trial established that during the early morning hours of August 16, 2022, McClarity shot and killed Summer Bryant and moments later shot Julie Thigpin in the ear. McClarity immediately drove to a local auto lot where he was apprehended by law enforcement.
District Attorney Jaeson Smith stated, “Our hearts absolutely go out to the family of Ms. Bryant. We can only hope this verdict brings Summer’s family and friends closure knowing justice will be served. I want to thank the Cedartown Police Department and the GBI for a great investigation. And a special thank you to our victim advocates who helped the family of Ms. Bryant throughout the trial process.”
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A young woman, identified as Summer Bryant, 26, died and her mother,Julie Thigpen, 50, was injured after gunfire erupted on East Gibson Street in the early morning hours of August 16. Reports said that Thigpen was shot in the face, but was not seriously injured.
A third victim was present, but fled the area unharmed.
Cedartown Police say at 3:04 a.m., a call was taken by Polk 9-11 in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a female in her late 20s deceased at the scene. Another female, the deceased’s mother, was also at the scene with a gunshot injury to her face.
During initial investigation, police learned that a third individual, a male, was present during the shooting but escaped unharmed.
After investigation, the suspect was identified as Randy McClarity Sr., 57, of Cedartown. Less than an hour after the incident, an officer with the Polk County Police Department located McClarity in the Collard Valley Road area. He is currently booked in the Polk County Jail on charges of murder, malice murder, and three counts of aggravated assault.
According to reports, the daughter, mother, and male victim were walking along East Gibson Street at 3 a.m. when the suspect approached the trio in his vehicle and began to shoot.
Police say that the daughter was immediately killed by gunfire. Thigpen was treated and released from a Rome area hospital on Tuesday.
The GBI said Bryant and Thigpen were living in the same home with McClarity, who was found less than an hour after the incident in the Collard Valley Road area in Polk County.
Both the Cedartown Police Department and the GBI are actively working the case. More information will be released as deemed appropriate by the GBI’s Office of Public Affairs.
