In the early evening of February 8, 2025, in Americus, Georgia, gunfire shattered the peace in the 600 block of Eastview Circle. When Americus police officers arrived at the scene around 8:30 p.m., they discovered a chaotic and tragic scene with multiple individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Among the victims was 19-year-old Jotavis Roshon Leverette, an African American male who was born on September 12, 2005, in Americus.
He was critically injured in the shooting and immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Tragically, two days later, on February 10, 2025, Jotavis Roshon Leverette succumbed to his injuries.
The shooting not only claimed the life of Jotavis Leverette but also resulted in the death of a 5-year-old girl, Peyton Brielle Roberts, who was playing in a courtyard when she was struck by a stray bullet. A third person was also wounded in the incident but sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to lead the investigation into the deadly shooting, working alongside the Americus Police Department to bring those responsible to justice.
The investigation quickly led to the identification and apprehension of three suspects. On February 10, 2025, the same day Leverette passed away, authorities arrested 19-year-old Ricky Martin of Americus. He was charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery and subsequently booked into the Sumter County Jail. A few days later, on February 13, a second suspect, 20-year-old Ny'Tavion Smith, was taken into custody and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. The final arrest in the case came on March 7, 2025, when 17-year-old Farley Arthur Watts III was apprehended and charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, and theft by receiving stolen property.
