Man faces murder charges in shooting over apparent 'love triangle'

<p>A Blackshear man faces murder charges in the shooting death of a man who initially was thought to have committed suicide.</p><p>William Tavis Popham, 22, has been held without bond since being charged Thursday with felony murder, malice murder and burglary in the death of 18-year-old Colquitt Jacob "Buck" Taylor.</p><p>Charlton County Sheriff Dobie Conner said Taylor's body was found in his Folkston home with a gunshot wound to the head on May 17. Authorities initially ruled his death a suicide, but it became a murder investigation after they were unable to find a weapon.</p><p>Popham and Taylor apparently were involved in a "love triangle" with the same woman, and jealousy seemed to be the motive in the shooting, Conner said.</p><p>But the investigation was hindered by misleading testimony from witnesses, who initially denied any knowledge about the shooting, he added.</p><p>"We will probably now be looking at going back and charging those people with these false stories they have told us," Conner said. "There have also been some serious threats made against individuals who some people thought might come forth and tell the truth."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2866290)</p>