Grovetown police have arrested several suspects connected to violence between two rival gangs, including one that could have turned deadly if a suspect’s gun had not malfunctioned.
The gang activity traces back to a March 3 incident at AM/PM gas station on Harlem-Grovetown. Witnesses said several suspects were outside the store with handguns and rifles pointed at another vehicle.
Police reviewed video footage and identified 18-year-old Monica Davis and 17-year-old Aleisha Murray as suspects, according to Grovetown Police Chief Chief Jamey Kitchens.
“Ms. Davis and Ms. Murray were previously the victims of a shooting incident on February 15th near the 200 block of VFW Road,” the chief said.
In the VFW Road case, 18-year-old Keith Campbell of Augusta was identified as a validated gang member of “EA” (Extort Anybody) who had traveled to Grovetown to settle a dispute between himself and the two teen females. During that incident, Campbell allegedly fired multiple rounds at both Davis and Murray as well as 17-year-old Jalon Rivers and 20-year-old Larry Garner, both of Grovetown.
“Ms. Murray, Ms. Davis, and Mr. Rivers routinely participate in gang-related activities throughout the CSRA, conducted by ‘Sex, Money, Murda,’ a nationally recognized criminal street gang,” Chief Kitchens said.
Since the VFW Road shooting, several incidents have taken place within and around Grovetown involving retaliation between “EA” and “SMM” associates, culminating in the incident at the AM/PM on March 3. In that incident, Davis, Murray and Rivers along with 20-year-old Daquan George and an unknown male arrived in the parking lot. When 18-year-old Lazarius Williams left the store, the group confronted him, armed with weapons, including an AR-15 and a handgun with an extended magazine.
In the video, multiple individuals are seen flashing gang signs as Williams, a validated member of “EA”, gets in his vehicle and attempts to leave. But Rivers attempts to fire a shot from the handgun towards Williams but appears to have a malfunction. Both vehicles then left.
On Tuesday night, police stopped a vehicle on Wrightsboro Road for failure to dim headlights and no taillights. They found Rivers with marijuana. Davis and Murray were also in the vehicle along with George and 17-year-old Jaden Williams and 21-year-old Chase Teasley.
“Upon asking the individuals to exit, Officers discovered an AR-15 style pistol, an AK-47 style pistol, and a handgun with an extended magazine,” Chief Kitchens said. “All occupants were then transported to the Grovetown Police Department, where upon being interviewed they admitted to their roles in the AM/PM incident and gave partial admissions to their involvement in the ongoing dispute between the gangs.”
Based on the traffic stop, all individuals in the vehicle were charged with unlawful criminal street gang activity, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and weapon possession.
In addition, Murray, Davis, Rivers, and George were charged in the AM/PM incident with three counts each of terroristic threats and acts and aggravated assault.
“The Grovetown Police Department remains committed to keeping our community safe to include from the dangers associated with Criminal Street Gang activity. It will not be tolerated in our city,” Chief Kitchens said.
