1 arrested, 2 wanted in Martinez shooting

MARTINEZ, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The alleged shooter connected to a shooting that occurred on Wednesday afternoon, which resulted in one person being hospitalized and led to lockdowns at three schools, has been arrested.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says that 18-year-old Davonte Taylor, of Evans, was taken into custody on Wednesday around 10:00 p.m. at an apartment complex off Skinner Mill Road.

According to authorities, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office was working in coordination with information provided by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and spotted Taylor in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

“We are glad we were able to assist Sheriff Clay Whittle and our partners with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, who continually assist us as well. We truly appreciate and value this strong working relationship as we work together to keep the entire CSRA safe,” said Sheriff Eugene Brantley.

Officials say Taylor is a student at Lakeside High.

The victim in the shooting is in critical condition, officials say.

The shooting occurred near the Blueridge Commons Apartments on the 500 block of Commons Drive, according to authorities, which is directly behind Blue Ridge.

News 12 spoke to neighbors, including Nicholas Koenig, who rushed home to check on his pets after hearing about the shooting outside his apartment.

“My neighbor, who lives right over here, had texted me pictures of out by the road of all the cop cars in front of our apartment. And I was like, I need to go check on my pets because I have two pets,” Koenig said.

He says this isn’t something that he’d expect in his neighborhood, right next to the three schools.

“It’s nerve-wracking because you kind of get in that perspective wherever you are in life, that it’s a safe spot, nothing’s going to happen around you. And then it’s all of a sudden things happen that you can’t control,” he said.

The sheriff’s office is also searching for two other black male suspects in that area, with at least one wearing a grey hoodie.

According to a letter from the superintendent, all of Wednesday’s after-school activities were cancelled.

The sheriff’s office initially responded to reports of a possible shooting near the 4000 block of Riverwatch Parkway on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after 3 p.m.

The scene was starting to clear around 5:45 p.m.

“We want to reassure you that school will be in regular session tomorrow, and as always, student safety will remain paramount in every decision we make. We appreciate your partnership and trust as we work together to keep our school community safe,” Principal Juliet King said in a letter to families Wednesday evening.

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