CAIRO — A Cairo man was granted bond on a felony murder charge Thursday. 

Nicholas Lequinte Perry, 21, of Cairo, was granted a $110,000 bond following a hearing in Grady County State Court.  

Perry’s bond condition includes a total lockdown at his parent’s residence unless meeting with his attorney Brian Steele. Perry is barred from contacting the victim’s family and witnesses in the case. Perry also has to stay away from the 200 block of 7th Street, where the January incident took place. 

Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Chase Littlejohn, who responded to the incident, testified, as did Perry’s step-father and his son’s grandmother. 

According to Littlejohn, the felony murder charge stems from a Jan. 7 incident between Perry and Elijah Denzel Smith, 25, of Whigham. 

A fight broke out between Perry and Smith over money owed, Littlejohn said. During the fight, Perry pulled out a gun and shot Smith, killing him.  

The two were in contact regrading the money on Jan. 6. 

Perry was found in Tallahassee, Florida six days after the incident and was taken into custody on Jan. 13.  

Perry was tracked down after calling an acquaintance in Clearwater, Florida, from a blocked number. 

Along with Tallahassee law enforcement agencies, a U.S. Marshals task force also was involved in tracking Perry down while in Florida. 

Perry was in Mitchell County Jail prior to the bond hearing. 

Along with conditions of his bond, Perry’s probation conditions — 10 years for a theft by receiving stolen property charge — also apply. 

South Georgia Judicial Circuit District Attorney Joe Mulholland sought to have bond for Perry denied. 

Following the January incident, the GBI and Cairo Police Department issued arrest warrants for Perry. The Cairo Police Department requested GBI assistance with the death investigation. 

South Georgia Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Heather Lanier presided over the bond hearing. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.