Deonandra Draco Devon Butler, a 27-year-old male, tragically lost his life to gun violence in Albany, Georgia, on July 26, 2023. Born in Columbus, Georgia, on December 8, 1999, Butler was a father to two children, Deonandre Jr. and Da'riyah. He had attended Dougherty High School and, after a period of living in Nevada with extended family, had returned to Albany to be with his family and friends.
The investigation into Butler's death led to the identification of three teenage suspects. Darek Tyshon Garner, 18, was arrested and taken to the Dougherty County Jail, where he faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit a crime. Another 18-year-old, Imani J'anice Williams, was also arrested and is being held in the same facility on a charge of tampering with evidence. The third suspect, 17-year-old Rontavis Dequse Davis Jr., was initially sought by police for murder.
Subsequent records indicate that Rontavis Dequse Davis Jr. was booked into the Dougherty County Jail on August 2, 2023. The charges listed against him include murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit a crime, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
According to court documents from the Superior Court of Dougherty County, both Darek Tyshon Garner and Rontavis Dequse Davis Jr. are scheduled for jury trials. A court calendar from September 2024 lists their trial dates for October 21 and October 28, 2024. The charges against Garner include robbery by sudden snatching, murder, voluntary manslaughter, felony murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of certain felonies, and two counts of aggravated assault. The charges against Davis Jr. are listed as robbery by sudden snatching, malice murder, voluntary manslaughter, felony murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, and multiple counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Further information regarding the outcomes of the legal proceedings, including potential trials and convictions for any of the suspects, is not yet publicly available as the scheduled trial dates are in the future.
