In the late afternoon of July 17, 2023, tragedy struck at a Sunoco gas station in Tifton, Georgia, when Vincent Terrell Myers, a 36-year-old Black male from the nearby city of Sylvester, was fatally shot. The incident, which unfolded at the 3119 South Central Drive location, prompted a swift response from the Tift County Sheriff's Office, who arrived to find Myers deceased at the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was subsequently called in to lead the death investigation.
The investigation quickly identified a suspect, Antavio Latrez Pierce, a 43-year-old man from Tifton, who was also injured during the altercation. Pierce was taken into custody on July 18, 2023, following his release from Tift Regional Medical Center. He was subsequently charged with malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in connection with Myers' death. An autopsy was performed on Myers at the Macon Crime Lab to assist in the investigation.
According to the victim's uncle, Tyrone Taylor, it appeared that Myers, a U.S. Army veteran and father of three, may have been targeted and attempted to defend himself during the attack. Taylor mentioned that Myers was recovering from a recent hand surgery, which might have hindered his ability to protect himself. Following his arrest, Pierce was held at the Tift County Jail and was denied bond by a Superior Court Judge, who deemed him a danger to the community based on his criminal history and the circumstances of the murder.
The case against Antavio Pierce Sr. proceeded to trial in Tift County Superior Court. In a decisive conclusion to the legal proceedings, a jury found Pierce guilty of the murder of Vincent Terrell Myers. Immediately following the verdict, the judge sentenced him to life in prison. The district attorney expressed that while the verdict could not bring Myers back, it held the defendant accountable and ensured the community's safety. Myers' family conveyed their satisfaction with the verdict, stating that justice had been served and that the murderer was now off the streets for life.
