Teen charged with murder in Valdosta shooting

Published 12:00 pm Tuesday, November 5, 2024

VALDOSTA — A teen-ager faces a murder charge in a Monday shooting, police said.

Around 5 p.m., an E911 caller said someone had been shot in a home in the 500 block of Brookdale Circle, a Valdosta Police Department statement said.

Police found Amarius Dakwon Shivers, 20, of Valdosta inside the house with a gunshot wound to the head; officers gave first aid until the fire department and EMTs arrived, but Shivers was pronounced dead at the scene.

Email newsletter signup

While detectives were interview people, another caller to E911 said her 15-year-old son was at home and may have been the shooter. The teen was taken into custody. Detectives determined that several teens were inside the home when the suspect was playing with a gun that went off, hitting the victim, the statement said,

The suspect was charged with felony murder, felony aggravated assault, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and misdemeanor possession of a firearm by a minor, police said.

“Our prayers go out to everyone involved in the incident.  As one mother was grieving the loss of her son, the mother of the 15-year-old contacted E911 to cooperate with law enforcement.  This is a tragic incident affecting two families, which would not have occurred, if juveniles were not playing with a gun,” said Police Chief Leslie Manahan.

Anyone with information about this case should contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.

This was the second shooting in about two weeks that appeared to be caused by someone playing with a gun. Three juveniles were charged in connection with an Oct. 20 shooting on Pinetree Boulevard in which a 14-year-old was injured.