8 face murder charges in Ga. party shooting that killed 2, injured dozens
VIENNA — Eight people face murder charges in connection with an October mass shooting that left two people dead and more than 40 injured at a neighborhood block party attended by upward of 1,000 people in this small Middle Georgia town along I-75.
Authorities announced the allegations on Thursday at a news conference, though they divulged few other new details and offered no indication of what might have prompted the bloodshed other than to attribute the gunfire to gang violence.
After the news conference, Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy, who was at the scene of the shooting when it happened, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the cause may remain a mystery. He also acknowledged there were multiple shooters involved and said the investigation continues.
“We really don’t know what makes people tick,” Peavy said. “We’re confident it was gang violence. But what triggered it, some things that we may know we can’t release.”
The gunfire erupted in the wee hours of Oct. 4, a Sunday morning, during a neighborhood block party on West Pine Street, a gathering unaffiliated with but centered around festivities for homecoming weekend for Dooly County High School.
Investigators had initially said 35 people were injured in the mayhem, but on Thursday upped the total to 44. They said 28 people, including the two men slain, suffered gunshot wounds and that 16 other victims sustained other injuries as they scrambled for cover.
“At the end of the day, we’ve still got a lot of victims, regardless of what triggered it,” Peavy said. “It shouldn’t have happened. … I think the biggest thing was probably too many people in one small area.”
All told, 10 Middle Georgians face charges in the incident and two of the eight charged with murder were at large Thursday, officials said.
Those facing felony murder, aggravated assault, gang-activity and gun-possession charges include: Latravis Keonta Bentley, 19, of Vienna; Ty’Darrious T. Dawson, 19, of Cordele; Devontre Jaquon Holton, 23, of Cordele; Demari Jaheem Nixon, 23, of Cordele; Keontae Towns, 16, of Cordele; and Kahdarious Kayvon Ray, 17, of Vienna, who was jailed in the days after the shooting on gang and gun charges.
Two men at large, who also face felony murder, aggravated assault and gun charges, were identified by the GBI as Brexton E. Gaston, 19, of Cordele and Vanravious Rashad Williams, 34, of Perry. Two other men arrested in the days after the shooting, Kelcey Rashaud Smith, 36, and Johntavious Robinson, 40, both of Cordele, were still being held on charges that include participation in gang activity, tampering with evidence and firearm possession by a felon.
GBI Director Chris Hosey spoke at Thursday’s news conference inside the Dooly County Courthouse and was flanked by more than a dozen state troopers, prosecutors and other law enforcement officials. He said the two men slain in the shooting — Ja’Quavion Aderious Jackson, 21, of Cordele, and Macaleb Malik Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville — “remain at the center of our work.”
“We also want to recognize the members of this community, because many of the tips that we received played an important role in this investigation’s progress,” Hosey said. “Gangs thrive on fear and silence. … To those members of this community who spoke up, thank you. Your courage made a difference.”