A Richmond County jury found two men guilty of murder Thursday in the 2019 death of Gerald Waldon.
Augusta District Attorney Jared Williams said gang members Tareke Collins and Davon Jones arranged a fight with Waldon, 22, who had been previously involved with the mother of Collins’ child.
“Collins arranged a time to come fight the victim near Walton Acres in Hephzibah,” while “Collins never intended this to be a fair fight,” Assistant District Attorney Cedric James told the jury.
What ensued was Collins, 23, enlisting fellow Crips gang member and his “Big Homey,” Davon Jones, 32, in a ruse to kill Waldon.
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Collins brought a handgun while Jones brought an assault rifle with a blue bandana attached to the barrel, Williams said. As Waldon appeared to be winning the fistfight, Collins shot him, execution-style, multiple tlmes.
Two women initially charged with Waldon’s murder, Tyasia White and Oceania Snelling, previously identified another man, Devonta Devine, as the shooter. Devine spent nearly a year in jail on the charge.
The women became “instrumental” in testifying at trial about what really happened, Williams said.
The jury found Collins guilty of malice murder and Jones guilty of felony murder.
Friday, Superior Court Judge John Flythe sentenced both to life without parole plus five years.
“The Violent Crimes and Gang Unit’s success over the past three years sends a singular message that I hope gang members will pay attention to,” Williams said. “If you take a life, you will lose your life to the prison system.”
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
