Artravius Dewain Gillis, an 18-year-old Black male, was tragically killed on June 16, 2021, in what was reported as a drive-by shooting on Thurman Drive in Greenwood, Mississippi. Gillis, who had recently graduated from high school, was fatally wounded in the incident. His death was a profound loss to his family and the local community.
Following an investigation into the shooting, two cousins from Greenwood, Bennie Leahman, 19, and Davontae Leahman, 22, were identified as suspects.
In July 2021, both men were apprehended by U.S. Marshals and subsequently charged with the murder of Artravius Gillis. The arrests brought a glimmer of hope for justice to the grieving family and community.
In February 2025, Bennie Leahman, then 23, stood trial for the murder of Gillis. After a two-day trial, a Leflore County jury found him not guilty of the charge. Information regarding the legal proceedings for the second suspect, Daveontae Leahman, was not readily available. The outcome of the trial left the community with lingering questions and a continued sense of loss for the young life that had been cut short.
