A suspected drug dealer used an undercover agent’s gun to wound him after the agent had just killed the suspect’s partner during a struggle, according to documents from the surviving suspect’s arrest in Athens.
Javonta Terrell Darden, 20, was killed Tuesday after he got into a struggle with an undercover agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The undercover agent, whose name has not been released, was later wounded by a bullet that passed through his shoulder and lodged in his jaw.
The surviving suspect, Steven Maurice McKinley, 21, charged with distribution of cocaine, attempt to kill a federal officer and discharge and use of a firearm during a crime of violence had his initial appearance in federal court Thursday.
According to the affidavit attached to the arrest warrant, the undercover agent first bought cocaine and marijuana from McKinley on Aug. 26.
More than a month later, the undercover agent scheduled another drug buy to take place at the Airport Mini Mart on Winterville Road in Athens with other ATF agents and Athens-Clarke County police officers. The agent also was going to buy guns from McKinley, FBI agent David Johnson wrote in the affidavit.
The ATF undercover agent and McKinley met around 5 p.m. Tuesday and then drove a few yards, stopping at some bushes along the road, according to Johnson’s affidavit.
That is where the ATF and McKinley also met up with Darden.
The surveillance camera at the convenience store was still able to capture some of the interactions between the ATF agent, McKinley and Darden.
At one point, the camera caught images of McKinley rummaging through the console in the agent’s car while the agent and Darden were on the other side of the bushes.
According to witnesses and the agent’s account, the agent and Darden got into a struggle and at one point Darden was on top of the agent.
One witness reported hearing four to five gunshots “being fired at close range” and then saw the agent push Darden off him.
The witness did not see Darden move. Darden died of two gunshot wounds to the stomach, according to the autopsy.
Then the agent ran toward some woods behind the mini mart.
The witness said, according to the document, that McKinley was standing in the street and didn’t try to run away when he saw the agent running out of the bushes. Then the witness reported hearing two more shots as the agent turned and ran back into the woods.
The agent told responding officers that his Glock was taken, and a short time later, McKinley showed officers where it was in the bushes, according to the affidavit.
“Based on physical evidence and witness statements, there is probable cause to believe that McKinley took the (undercover agent’s) firearm and shot at him several times with the intent to murder,” the affidavit said.
McKinley, who is being held without bond, is due back in federal court Thursday.
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