An Augusta man is facing a murder charge following the death of a Thomson dancer earlier this week.
Jantez Durden, 32, is accused of fatally shooting Alvin Rivers, also 32, outside an Exxon gas station in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Rivers was rushed to MCG Wellstar Hospital with a gunshot wound to the head, but he passed away on Friday.
Durden was arrested on Tuesday and initially charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon, a 9mm Glock. He was booked into jail without bond. Authorities have since upgraded the charges to murder following Rivers’ death. Reports indicate that Rivers’ organs were donated. He was known for his talent as a dancer in the community.
This is not Durden’s first brush with the law. He was previously arrested in June 2023 on charges of obstructing two officers during an investigation. At the time, he had been involved in a confrontation on Broad Street, where he was upset over accusations that he had been interacting with other women at a club.
As Durden became more aggressive toward his wife, Lt. Steve Fanning intervened, but Durden pushed him and tried to strike him. Backup deputies had to tase Durden to subdue him, and he was later charged with two counts of obstruction of officers, which have lingered in the courts.
Durden is being held without bond at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.
