In the early morning hours of February 23, 2019, a dispute that began inside a Vidalia, Georgia Huddle House tragically escalated, claiming the life of 28-year-old Roderick Harvey Jr. of Alamo. Harvey, along with Rosanna Simpson of Vidalia, was confronted by Zeary Devontae Davis inside the restaurant. The verbal altercation spilled out into the parking lot.
As Harvey and Simpson attempted to leave in their vehicle, Davis opened fire, striking Harvey.
The gunfire caused Harvey to lose control of the vehicle, which then crashed into a tree on Highway 280. Harvey succumbed to his injuries from the gunshot wound. Simpson sustained serious injuries in the incident.
The investigation, led by the Vidalia Police Department, quickly identified Zeary Devontae Davis, then 27, of Uvalda, as the suspect. It was reported that Simpson was Davis's former girlfriend and was dating Harvey at the time of the shooting. Davis later turned himself in to the police.
In May 2021, Zeary Devontae Davis entered a guilty plea to charges of malice murder and aggravated battery in Toombs County Superior Court. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder and a concurrent 20-year sentence for the aggravated battery charge. Davis will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.
