In the early evening of May 5, 2021, the sound of gunshots shattered the peace in a neighborhood in Athens, Tennessee. When police arrived at the scene on Walthall Street, they discovered a young Black male, 21-year-old Zavion Daron Tramine Ferguson, lying in a grassy area next to a basketball court. He had been shot. Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the location and rendered aid, but Ferguson succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene.
The investigation into the
shooting continued throughout the night, leading to the arrest of 18-year-old Logan Rowe of Niota. Rowe was taken to the McMinn County Jail and charged with second-degree murder. According to reports, Rowe was at the basketball court with his girlfriend to meet a friend. An altercation ensued where several individuals allegedly began punching Rowe, who then fired shots. Ferguson was struck by the gunfire as everyone fled the scene.
Family and friends of Zavion Ferguson remember him as a happy and fun-loving person who was a talented football player in high school. They held a vigil and balloon release to honor his memory. While the investigation was ongoing, Rowe claimed the shooting was in self-defense. However, Ferguson's family disputed the initial police report, stating that he was an innocent bystander who did not deserve to die. They believed the narrative released to the media did not accurately portray the events that led to his death.
