A narcotics transaction in Valdosta, Georgia, on the afternoon of September 27, 2023, ended in deadly gunfire. Police say 26-year-old Elijah Davis was found in a parking lot on Willie Houseal Drive with fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Calls about separate shootings around 2:09 p.m. brought officers to multiple locations.

Two other men wounded in the same exchange of gunfire were treated at hospitals and later arrested. Twenty-one-year-old Ryeshon Young suffered a gunshot wound to his leg; 34-year-old Malcom Cooper had a chest wound. Both Cooper and Young face felony murder, felony aggravated assault, and felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Cooper also faced additional charges including attempted purchase of marijuana, giving a false name and date of birth, fugitive from justice, and had outstanding warrants from Florida, one listed for murder. A 22-year-old who drove Cooper to the hospital was charged with using a communication facility to facilitate a felony. Valdosta’s police chief described the shooting as isolated and noted no innocent bystanders were harmed.

Are there witnesses who were in the parking lot or nearby that afternoon who can shed light on how the transaction escalated?