The life of NeAhmad Jayshawn Alfred, a 21-year-old Black man, was cut short on a Thursday afternoon in Albany, Georgia. On November 30, 2023, at approximately 2:26 p.m., a burst of gunfire erupted at the Woodlands apartment complex on Gillionville Road. When police arrived, they found NeAhmad and another young man, 21-year-old Tyler Marquise Graham, deceased at the scene. Both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. A third person, 20-year-old Kesha Walton, was also shot several times but survived his injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
The initial investigation by the Albany Police Department suggested the incident was a shootout among a group of individuals who had arrived at the apartment complex together in the same vehicle. Using video surveillance from the scene, detectives began to piece together the violent encounter and identify those involved.
The investigation quickly led to several arrests.
Police identified 19-year-old Taverance Jackson as a person of interest, warning the public that he should be considered armed and dangerous. Jackson was later apprehended on murder warrants in Orange County, Florida. Investigators also arrested a 16-year-old, Wy’Travion Buchanan, who was charged with two counts of murder. In a significant development, the surviving victim, Kesha Walton, was also arrested after his release from the hospital. Police stated that video evidence showed Walton was an active participant who had initiated the shootout, and he was charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
In December 2024, the case reached its conclusion in court. It was revealed that the violent encounter had started as a drug deal that went wrong. Kesha Walton, Taverance Jackson, and Wy’Travion Buchanan all pleaded guilty to the double homicide. The victims' families were present and spoke about their profound loss. Each of the three men was sentenced to 35 years, with the first 10 years to be served in prison. With the convictions, the case was closed as of December 2024.
