In the fading daylight of a Monday evening in Griffin, Georgia, on November 24, 2014, the life of 21-year-old Demarkis Willis was cut short by a single gunshot. The events leading to his death began with a dispute over stolen property, a conflict that had been simmering and escalating throughout the day among several young men. The altercations, which started near Edgewood Avenue, eventually erupted into violence.
Willis was shot near a house behind the Regency Apartments on West College Street Extension. Despite his grave injury, he managed to flee the scene, seeking help at the nearby Ma & Pa Grocery on Meriwether Street. He collapsed in the parking lot near the store's car wash, where he was found by emergency responders. He was rushed to Spalding Regional Hospital but succumbed to his wound and was pronounced dead a short time later.
The Griffin Police Department, with assistance from the Spalding County Sheriff's Office, quickly launched an investigation. Through witness interviews, they pieced together the narrative of the ongoing feud and identified three suspects: 17-year-old Amahjea 'Christopher' Williams, 23-year-old Cornelius 'Buck' Henderson, and 18-year-old Yohance Hines, all from Griffin.
The manhunt for the three suspects began immediately. One of the suspects, Christopher Williams, was initially brought to the police department by his family and was cooperating with investigators. However, in a startling turn of events, he managed to escape custody while being questioned. This led to an intensified search for all three individuals, who were considered armed and dangerous.
The first breakthrough in the case came when Yohance Hines, accompanied by his father, turned himself in to the Griffin Police Department. Not long after, Christopher Williams also surrendered to authorities at the Spalding County Jail. The final suspect, Cornelius Henderson, was taken into custody after a lieutenant with the Spalding County Sheriff's Office was able to contact him and persuade him to turn himself in. All three were subsequently held at the Spalding County Jail.
