DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston has announced the conviction of Lavaniel Davis, a McDonough resident, for the murder of Trevon Richardson during an armed robbery. Davis, 23, received a life sentence plus 20 years to be served consecutively and an additional five years on probation. The trial was presided over by Judge Winston P. Bethel at the DeKalb County Superior Court.
On August 23, jurors found Davis guilty of three counts of felony murder along with charges including aggravated assault, armed robbery, criminal solicitation, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The incident occurred on May 28, 2018. Officers from the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a call about a person lying in an apartment complex parking lot on Peppertree Circle in unincorporated Decatur. They discovered Richardson's body with a gunshot wound to his chest. He had no identification at the time.
Richardson was later identified by his family after they filed a missing person report matching his description. Investigations revealed that Richardson was last seen alive selling marijuana from the back seat of a black Dodge Dart. A friend witnessed this transaction but only got a clear view of the driver.
The Dodge Dart was linked to Detavion McDay, who was identified as the driver during the drug deal through surveillance footage from nearby apartment complexes. One video showed McDay driving away from where Richardson's body was found.
Search warrants executed at McDay’s home and on the vehicle uncovered evidence such as a bullet hole in the car's back seat and a spent .40 caliber shell casing in McDay's washing machine.
McDay confessed that his acquaintance "Darius" orchestrated the robbery and shot Richardson. Further investigation by the District Attorney’s Office identified "Darius" as Lavaniel Davis, leading to his arrest on December 17, 2021.
McDay entered into a plea agreement for voluntary manslaughter and other charges on March 6, 2020. He received a sentence of 40 years with 25 years to be served in custody and remaining time on probation.
The prosecution team included Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Rod Wilkerson, Senior Assistant District Attorney Darlene Childers, Investigator Christopher Richards, and Victim Advocate Sandra Trejos-Roman. The initial investigation was led by DKPD Detective W.J. Mueller.