In a tragic turn of events stemming from a domestic dispute, 28-year-old Martavis McKinney, a Black man, lost his life on August 12, 2025, in Columbus, Georgia. The fatal incident unfolded at The Lakes Apartments on Warm Springs Road, where Columbus police officers responded to a shooting report. Upon their arrival, they discovered McKinney had been shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:21 p.m. by the Muscogee County Coroner.
The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to his left shoulder blade.
The investigation into the shooting, led by the Columbus Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit, soon pointed towards a domestic-related altercation. Found at the scene with injuries was McKinney's girlfriend, Shayona Monique Jones. After being treated at a local hospital and released, Jones became the primary suspect in McKinney's death. The preliminary information gathered by investigators indicated that the shooting was the unfortunate culmination of a dispute between the couple.
Following a thorough investigation, an arrest was made in connection with the homicide. On September 11, 2025, Columbus police took 30-year-old Shayona Monique Jones into custody. She was subsequently charged with murder, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, and cruelty to children in the third degree. Jones had her first court appearance on September 16, 2025. Martavis McKinney, originally from Early County, was remembered in an obituary that highlighted his recent baptism and his love for his seven-year-old daughter.
