A Georgia man has been convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for fatally shooting his live-in girlfriend and attempting to take his own life.
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, Christopher Bullock was found guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony. The trial, which began on December 2 before Judge Don Thompson, concluded with a swift guilty verdict after 20 minutes of jury deliberation.
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Evidence presented during the trial revealed that on the morning of October 5, 2023, Bullock shot and killed Tammy Cropper, his girlfriend, in their shared apartment in Rossville, Georgia. Bullock shot Cropper multiple times in their bedroom before attempting to take his own life by shooting himself in the head.
Later that day, Cropper’s 7-year-old grandson discovered Bullock on the bedroom floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after returning home from school.
Agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Rossville Police Department launched an investigation that confirmed Bullock’s culpability. The murder weapon was determined to belong to Bullock, and surveillance footage showed no other individuals entering the apartment that day. Bullock also admitted to shooting himself when questioned by law enforcement.
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Investigators uncovered a possible motive: Bullock, who had a history of failed relationships and had recently been terminated from his job, was experiencing mounting stress. In the days leading up to the murder, Cropper had given him an ultimatum to contribute more financially to their household or face the end of their relationship. Bullock responded by sending “goodbye” text messages to friends and family, signaling his intention to take his own life.
On October 5, he followed through with this plan but made the devastating decision to kill Cropper as well.
Following a three-day trial, the jury delivered a guilty verdict. Judge Don Thompson imposed the maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the prosecution team.
“I want to thank the GBI and our amazing prosecution team for relentlessly pursuing justice for Ms. Cropper and her family,” Fuller said. “This prosecution should send a clear message: you take a life in our community, then you’ll spend the rest of yours in prison.”
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