Augusta teen charged as getaway driver in weekend murder

Ja'Vyion Dae'Quan Johnson, 19

Date: January 29, 2025

An Augusta teen has been charged with murder in connection to a deadly shooting that took place over the weekend on Higdon Street.

Ja’Vyion Dae’Quan Johnson, 19, is accused of acting as the getaway driver in the shooting that killed 30-year-old Devonta Lamar McCloud and injured 31-year-old Omar Andrews, according to authorities.

The shooting occurred inside McCloud’s residence on Saturday. Authorities say Johnson drove two other men away from the scene after the shooting, but the identities of the other suspects remain unknown.

Devonta Lamar McCloud

While a motive for the violence has not been disclosed, both the homicide and gang units of the sheriff’s office were involved in Johnson’s arrest on Tuesday. Andrews, who survived the attack, has a prior arrest record for street gang activity and drug dealing, though the gang charge was later dropped.

This marks the fourth confirmed homicide in Augusta this year, compared to three at this time last year. The city ended 2024 with 50 homicides.

Johnson is being held without bond at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

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The Author

Greg Rickabaugh is an award-winning crime reporter in the Augusta-Aiken area with experience writing for The Augusta Chronicle and serving as publisher of The Jail Report. He also owns AugustaCrime.com. Rickabaugh is a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina and has appeared on several crime documentaries on the Investigation Discovery channel. He is married with two daughters.

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