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The third suspect wanted in connection with a Tifton homicide investigation—where the victim’s body was discovered inside a burning vehicle—surrendered to authorities on August 17, 2025, according to the Tift County Sheriff’s Office.
Derrick Lamar Britt Jr., 25, walked into the sheriff’s office around 8:50 a.m. and turned himself in, days after warrants were issued for his arrest. The charges against him are extensive, including malice murder, felony murder, second-degree arson, conspiracy to commit a felony, abandonment of a dead body, and multiple firearm-related counts. Court records reviewed by WALB indicate Britt is a convicted felon, which led to the additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The case dates back to July 24, when first responders found a vehicle engulfed in flames near the intersection of Arnold Road and Branch Road in Tifton. Inside, they discovered the body of 36-year-old Josh Gillis. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation later determined that Gillis died from apparent gunshot wounds, not from the fire.
Authorities have not released a motive, but they have described the incident as a targeted homicide. The Tift County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation is now in its final stages, and the case will be submitted to the Tift County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution within the next week.
Britt is the third person arrested in connection with Gillis’s death. Robert Louis Brown, 41, was taken into custody earlier this month and faces a similar array of charges: malice murder, felony murder, conspiracy, arson, and aggravated assault. Aiyah Foster, 25, was also arrested and charged with conspiracy, tampering with evidence, improper disposal of human remains, and second-degree arson.
The three suspects are being held separately at the Tift County Jail, and bond hearings have not yet been scheduled. Local legal experts say the multiple murder counts—malice and felony—give prosecutors flexibility to secure a conviction even if the intent behind the killing cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Felony murder typically applies when a death occurs during the commission of a dangerous felony, such as arson or aggravated assault,” said a criminal defense attorney familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The state can pursue both charges simultaneously.”
The Tifton community has been shaken by the violence. Gillis was remembered by friends as a father and a hard worker. A small memorial with flowers and a cross has been placed near the intersection where his car was found.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact the Tift County Sheriff’s Office or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The case remains active, and further arrests have not been ruled out.
