On the night of July 20, 2024, a burst of gunfire erupted at a Marathon gas station on Napier Avenue in Macon, Georgia, ending the life of 23-year-old RaQuavian Smith. A Black male and father of three, Smith was caught in the crossfire of what authorities have described as gang-related violence.
Smith was reportedly an associate of Nekoase Antwan Vinson, a 41-year-old confirmed member of the Macon Mafia street gang, and Joshua Teone Curry. Both Vinson and Curry were present at the gas station when the shooting broke out. Surveillance footage from the scene captured Curry exchanging fire with unidentified individuals using a fully automatic pistol, while Vinson was seen brandishing an AR-style rifle. In the ensuing chaos, Smith sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Following the incident, Smith was privately transported to Navicent Hospital's Emergency Room, but medical personnel were unable to save him. His family described him as a young man who was actively trying to turn his life around. They believe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The investigation into the shooting led to the execution of a search warrant on August 23, 2024, at a residence on Roy Street controlled by Vinson and Curry. Both men were taken into custody. During the search, law enforcement discovered two firearms, including a Glock. 40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine and a switch, and a Sig Sauer. 45 caliber pistol. An AR-style rifle was also found inside Curry's vehicle. Authorities also seized various items of Macon Mafia memorabilia, including a large 'M4L' medallion that Vinson was wearing at the time of his arrest and during the shooting.
As a convicted felon, Nekoase Antwan Vinson was prohibited from possessing a firearm. In May 2025, he was sentenced to 107 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. This sentence also included a revocation of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. While Vinson was held accountable for the federal firearms offense, and authorities have publicly stated that a man lost his life as a result of the shootout, official announcements and news reports have not specified whether he, Curry, or any other individual has been charged with the murder of RaQuavian Smith. The investigation into his death remains ongoing as his family continues to seek justice.
