McDonough man sentenced to life in prison for murder of teenager in DeKalb County

DECATURE – A McDonough man has been sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the murder of a teenager during an armed robbery in 2018, according to DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston.

Lavaniel Davis, 23, was found guilty by a jury on August 23. His charges included three counts of aggravated murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, criminal solicitation and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, resulting in the death of 18-year-old Trevon Richardson.

On May 28, 2018, DeKalb County police discovered Richardson's body with a gunshot wound in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Peppertree Circle in unincorporated Decatur. A missing person report led to the teenager being identified. There is evidence that before his death he was at a nearby apartment complex, where he reportedly sold marijuana to two people in a black Dodge Dart.

The Dodge Dart was linked to co-defendant Detavion McDay, who was positively identified as the driver during the deal. Surveillance footage showed his car leaving the scene where Richardson's body was found.

McDay was later taken into custody and revealed that his accomplice “Darius,” identified as Davis, planned and carried out the drug trafficking, robbery and murder.

McDay had already pleaded guilty in March 2020 to involuntary manslaughter and other charges, carrying a sentence of 40 years in prison, of which he served 25 years in custody.

Davis will also serve five years of probation following his sentence.