In the pre-dawn hours of June 15, 2018, the life of Shawntray Grant, a 32-year-old male known affectionately as 'Puff,' was brought to a violent and tragic end. A well-known community activist who passionately campaigned against the very gun violence that would claim him, Grant was ambushed outside his new apartment on Randolph Street in Savannah, Georgia. He had just returned from a celebratory night at a casino boat in Brunswick, where he had won a substantial amount of money, reportedly as much as $12,000. As he arrived home, he was shot multiple times in what investigators determined was a targeted armed robbery. The beloved local figure, who had dedicated his life to youth advocacy and social justice, was found slumped over on the side of his vehicle, his winnings gone.
Shawntray Grant was a prominent and beloved figure in his community. He was the CEO of the Bullhorn Crew, an activist group, and was deeply involved with numerous organizations aimed at youth mentorship and ending violence. A graduate of Savannah High School, he turned his passion for cooking into his own business, S & K Catering and DJ Services. His sudden death sent shockwaves through Savannah, leaving friends, family, and the many lives he had touched in a state of grief and disbelief over the senseless loss of a man who fought so hard for peace. The cruel irony of his murder was not lost on the community; the man who used his voice to speak out against killing was silenced by a hail of bullets.
The investigation into Grant's murder slowly uncovered a plot born of greed and betrayal. In March 2019, several months after the killing, a grand jury indicted Osha Dunham and Nelaunte Grant in connection with the crime. A wider indictment eventually included several other individuals for crimes related to Shawntray's death and other offenses. The subsequent trial in January 2020 revealed that Nelaunte Grant, an acquaintance who had accompanied Shawntray to the casino that night, had been in communication with Osha Dunham. The prosecution argued that she fed Dunham information about Shawntray's winnings and his location, setting him up for the fatal robbery. Evidence showed phone communications between Nelaunte Grant and Dunham that night, which she had erased from her phone.
The trial brought a measure of justice for Shawntray Grant. Osha Dunham was convicted of malice murder for firing the shots that ended Grant's life. Furthermore, Shawntray's stolen gun was later recovered and linked to Dunham in connection with five other crimes, including another homicide. Nelaunte Grant was found guilty of felony murder and armed robbery for her role in orchestrating the events of that tragic night and was sentenced to life in prison. Another co-defendant, Donnell Richardson, was acquitted of all charges. Though the legal proceedings concluded, the community continues to mourn a man who gave his all to his city, a void left by a senseless act of violence.
