In the early morning hours of June 17, 2017, in Griffin, Georgia, the life of 36-year-old Jontavian Davis, an African American male, was tragically cut short. Just after 1 a.m. at a residence on Scales Street, Davis was shot multiple times with a handgun, ending his life in a sudden act of violence. The quiet of the night was shattered by the sound of gunfire, leaving a community in shock and a family to mourn an unexpected and devastating loss.
The Griffin Police Department promptly
launched a homicide investigation, and their efforts quickly centered on a single suspect. Investigators identified Vonterryon J. Matthews, a 28-year-old also known by the street name 'Raw Dirty,' as the man they believed to be responsible for Davis's death. A search for Matthews ensued, with police cautioning that he was to be considered armed and dangerous. Information released to the public described him and a vehicle he was possibly driving, a gold 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Three days after the fatal shooting, on June 20, 2017, Vonterryon J. Matthews was apprehended by law enforcement. His arrest brought a sense of relief to the Griffin community as the man suspected of the violent crime was taken into custody. Matthews was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. While the specific motive for the shooting was not made immediately clear, the arrest marked the beginning of the legal process to bring justice for Jontavian Davis and his grieving family.
