On an autumn evening in Decatur, Alabama, the life of 20-year-old Dontay Jamar Garner was tragically cut short. The young Black man was fatally shot on October 30, 2025, in what authorities have described as a targeted attack. The incident unfolded outside the 5th Avenue Food Mart, where Garner had gone with his girlfriend. As they exited the store, a man was reportedly waiting for them.
Responding to reports of a shooting at approximately 6:30 p.m., Decatur police officers arrived at
the scene to find Garner with a gunshot wound. Despite the immediate response from medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries. Investigators quickly identified a suspect, 21-year-old Xavier Rashawn Sutherlin, who had remained at the location after the officers' arrival.
Sutherlin was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder in connection with Garner's death. He was booked into the Morgan County Jail and initially held without bond. However, he was later released after posting a $300,000 bond, a decision reportedly made due to his lack of a prior criminal history.
In the wake of his son's death, Don Garner has publicly expressed his grief and his desire for justice. He described his son as a joyful and happy person with a good sense of humor who was working in HVAC and saving to buy his first house. The family held a funeral service for Dontay, followed by his burial in Calvary Memorial Gardens. The case against Xavier Rashawn Sutherlin is proceeding through the legal system.
