On a January morning in Americus, Georgia, the life of 21-year-old LaWarrior Charles Gardner was tragically cut short. A male, known as a dedicated correctional officer and a talented barber, Gardner was fatally shot in his home on Carter Street on January 18, 2020. In his final moments, he was reportedly protecting others inside the residence, including one of his sisters.
The incident prompted an immediate law enforcement response, and a suspect was quickly identified as Demonte Everett Mayes, Jr., who was 23 years old at the time and resided in Arlington, Texas. Following the shooting, Mayes fled the scene, abducting his own 2-month-old biological child and sparking an Amber Alert.
A multi-state effort to locate Mayes and the abducted infant ensued. Law enforcement, including the Americus Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, collaborated with the Georgia Fusion Center to disseminate information to local, state, and federal agencies. Their swift actions led to the location of Mayes's vehicle traveling on U.S. Highway 80 between Montgomery and Selma, Alabama.
The Alabama Highway Patrol successfully intercepted the vehicle, taking Mayes into custody without incident and safely recovering the child. Following his arrest, Mayes was charged with murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault, and kidnapping. He subsequently waived extradition and was to be transported back to Americus, Georgia, to face the charges brought against him for the death of LaWarrior Charles Gardner.
