In the early morning hours of July 12, 2020, Travis Latrail Plummer, a 34-year-old African American male from East Dublin, Georgia, was fatally shot at the Friendly Gus gas station on Central Drive. The incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. when officers were attempting to clear a large crowd that had gathered in the parking lot. Plummer was pronounced dead at Fairview Park Hospital at approximately 2:45 a.m. He was a father of two and an employee at the Pepsi-Cola Company.
The investigation into Plummer's death quickly pointed towards gang-related violence. Authorities identified the 'Money Power Loyalty' gang, a criminal street gang based in Laurens County, as being involved. The investigation revealed that an argument broke out in the crowded parking lot, which escalated to gunfire. Plummer, who had been sitting in his cousin's car, was caught in the ensuing chaos and was shot while trying to flee for his life. East Dublin Police Chief Bill Luecke described Plummer as a 'fine man' from a 'wonderful family' who was not bothering anyone at the time of the shooting.
As a result of the investigation, three men were arrested in connection with the murder of Travis Plummer: Creuntae Floyd, Jamil Thompkins, and Tevin Tobridge. The case against them was part of a larger 114-count indictment against 11 members of the MPL gang, which included charges of racketeering, murder, and aggravated assault. The indictment detailed a pattern of criminal activity by the gang to obtain money, property, and firearms through illegal means.
The legal proceedings for the three suspects took different paths. Jamil 'Slime' Thompkins, identified as an MPL member, pleaded guilty to the murder of Travis Plummer and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Creuntae Floyd chose to go to trial and was found guilty by a Laurens County jury on multiple counts, including malice murder, felony murder, and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. He received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 130 years. The third suspect, Tevin Tobridge, also went to trial, but his first case ended in a mistrial, and he is currently awaiting a new trial.
