A teenager has sobbed in court after she and her two friends were denied bail for allegedly killing one of their ex-boyfriends as they invaded her home in Georgia.
McKenzie Davenport, 19, lowered her head and cried in her prison jumpsuit, while her handcuffed accomplices Sydney Maughon and Jeremy Munson, both 18, appeared emotionless in court.
The trio are charged with malicious murder, assault and criminal trespassing after Johnathan Gilbert, 22, was shot dead on July 3 in Griffin, Georgia.
Johnathan, who also goes by the name Tyler Lane, was found motionless in the middle of Dobbins Mill Road after being shot. The three teenagers were pushing his house when he came out and confronted them.
The fatal incident was sparked by an ongoing lovers’ quarrel. Sydney, Johnathan’s ex-girlfriend, who was riding in the backseat of the car, pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times, police said.
Johnathan was begging for his life when Jeremy allegedly ripped off his necklace – containing his father’s ashes inside – and fled in the car. He died at the scene.
Sydney Maughon, left, is the slain man’s ex-girlfriend. McKenzie Davenport, right, accompanied her to allegedly host her home. We see her crying in court
Sydney Maughon casts a blank stare as she is denied bail. Police believe she pulled the trigger on her ex-boyfriend. She allegedly threatened him and his new close friend in the hours leading up to the event.
Jeremy Munson, 18, arrives in court. He allegedly ripped off the dying man’s necklace – containing his father’s ashes inside – and fled in the car
McKenzie Davenport was at the scene when the man died
Along with the other charges, the two 18-year-olds were also charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm while committing a crime.
They were all denied bail at Thursday morning’s hearing.
Gilbert and his ex-girlfriend Sydney Maughon were reportedly in an “ongoing romance” after Gilbert got close to another woman, Kaylee Morgan.
Morgan, who was in the house when the eggs started, told NewsNation that Gilbert “came out to confront her (Sydney) and they all ran to the car.”
Gilbert then approached the car.
She said: ‘From what I think happened, she shot him as he ran to the car
“He just collapsed and he was alive for about 10 minutes, begging for someone.
‘It’s very sad. Because he lost his father that way. From what I heard, Jeremy got out of the car and ripped off her necklace.
“It was his father’s ashes. He was begging for his life, and no one knows what was going through his mind at that moment.
Kaylee also explained that the harassment of Johnathan’s ex-girlfriend was not unique. Sydney had threatened them both in the hours and days leading up to this event.
Johnathan’s close friend Kaylee now wears his ashes in a locket around her neck.
Johnathan Gilbert, 22, also named Tyler Lane, was found motionless in the middle of Dobbins Mill Road. The three teenagers had invaded his house when he came out and confronted them
Sydney, Johnathan’s ex-girlfriend, who was riding in the backseat of the car, pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times, police said.
Sydney Maughon, 18, went with her two friends to host her ex-boyfriend’s house
Kaylee Morgan (pictured) was inside the house at the time of the egg and shooting. She had become close friends with Johnathan Gilbert, who was allegedly shot by his ex-girlfriend. Kaylee now wears Johnathan’s ashes around her neck
According to the Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, investigators were able to locate a witness who provided them with enough evidence to link the victim to the suspects.
In a statement, Dix said: “Using this information, investigators began their search for the suspects, located a cell phone number linked to one of them and tracked it to a location in the Henry County.”
“At that time, we contacted Henry County PD, and they immediately dispatched officers to the area.
“They searched until they found the vehicle at a residence and were able to obtain a search warrant for the vehicle and the residence.
McKenzie Davenport looked miserable in court
Jeremy Munson is seen handcuffed in court
The trio are charged with malicious murder, assault and criminal trespassing after Johnathan Gilbert, 22, was shot dead on July 3 in Griffin, Georgia.
Two of the teenagers arrive in court on August 3, 2023
“During the search they recovered the car that was used in the crime, as well as the weapon that we believe was used to shoot Gilbert.”
As the investigation progressed, other suspects were developed and eventually arrested.
Dix continued: ‘It appears there was a lovers’ feud going on and the suspects decided to go to Gilbert’s residence in Dobbins Mill and vandalize it by provoking her.
“When Gilbert saw what they were doing at his residence, he came out of the house unarmed to confront them.
“The suspects ran to the car and as Gilbert approached them, Sydney Maughon, a passenger in the back of the car, pulled out a gun and shot him several times.
Egg splatter residue is visible on the wall of Gilbert’s house
“The suspects then drove off, leaving Gilbert dead in the middle of Dobbins Mill Road.”
Dix continued: “They are all guilty, as if they pulled the trigger themselves.
“They went to a house, the victim confronted them while they were doing it, he lost his life, they left and left his body in the middle of the road.
“Together they bought this ticket; now, together, they can do this trick.
In Georgia, a charge of “malicious murder” indicates an intentional murderous crime. Prosecutors believe that the three teenagers involved deserve to be charged.
Sydney Maughon, 18, allegedly fired the fatal shot from the backseat of the passenger who killed Gilbert
The three were allegedly involved in an ongoing lovers’ feud and pushed Gilbert’s house before the shooting.
Since his death, tributes have been paid to Gilbert on social networks.
One person said, “I am so heartbroken that you left. I don’t even really have the words to express how I feel, I just know that I love you so much!
“I know you would have done so much good with your life. Another posted: ‘Tyler Lane was a truly amazing young man and he loved with all his heart.
“He will be forever missed. This world will not be the same without him.
The 22-year-old’s mother, Monica Gilbert, said: ‘I have a hole in my soul and in my mind that will never be filled. What I’m going through right now, no parent should have to go through no mother or father.
“My little ‘Ty bug’ was so loved by everyone he met that he had an infectious smile and just huge big blue eyes.”
“He was really trying to turn his life around, and he certainly left a hole in our hearts,” Tyler’s grandmother Pamela Eisenberg said.
