In the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2020, Javante Jackson, a 26-year-old African American man, was found lifeless outside one of the buildings at the Elizabeth Canty Apartment complex in Columbus, Georgia. Responding officers discovered that his pockets had been turned inside out, an immediate indication of a robbery. An autopsy would later confirm that Jackson had died from a single gunshot wound to his abdomen.
His death marked a tragic start to the new year in the community.
The investigation into the death of Javante Jackson quickly gained momentum, leading to the apprehension of two teenage suspects: 17-year-old Dequarius Richardson, also known as 'Big Man,' and a 16-year-old juvenile. The subsequent investigation revealed a premeditated and calculated plan to rob Jackson. Richardson had reportedly lured Jackson from his apartment with the promise of a trip to a music studio to rap and socialize. In a deceptive act of feigned concern, Richardson even provided Jackson with an unloaded gun, suggesting he needed it for protection.
The motive for this elaborate and ultimately fatal setup was to steal a small amount of marijuana, specifically seven grams. Shortly after leaving the apartment, the two were met by the 16-year-old accomplice, who was armed with a 20-gauge shotgun. During a lengthy four-hour interrogation, both Richardson and the juvenile suspect implicated themselves in the crime. Richardson admitted to planning the robbery. Following their confessions, law enforcement recovered the shotgun used in the murder, as well as the vehicle the suspects had used.
Both Dequarius Richardson and his juvenile accomplice were charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. As the investigation progressed, an additional charge of armed robbery was added for both suspects. A judge denied bond for both teenagers, and their cases were bound over to the Superior Court, signaling the serious nature of the charges they faced.
