EXCLUSIVE: Teen sobs in court when she and two friends fail to bond over the shooting death of 22-year-old Johnathan Gilbert after he confronted them for pelting his home over lovers spat on in Georgia
A teenager sobbed in court after she and her two friends failed to bond over allegedly killing one of their ex-boyfriends while storming his home in Georgia.
McKenzie Davenport, 19, bowed her head and cried in her prison suit, while her handcuffed accomplices Sydney Maughon and Jeremy Munson, both 18, looked emotionless at the hearing.
The trio are each charged with intent to murder, battery and criminal misdemeanor after Johnathan Gilbert, 22, was shot dead on July 3 in Griffin, Georgia.
Johnathan, also known as Tyler Lane, was found motionless in the middle of Dobbins Mill Road after being shot. The three teens were harassing his house when he came out and confronted them.
The fatal incident was caused by an ongoing argument between lovers. Sydney, Johnathan’s ex-girlfriend who was in the back seat of the car, pulled out a firearm and shot him several times, police said.
Johnathan begged for his life when Jeremy reportedly snatched his necklace – containing his father’s ashes – and fled in the car. He died on the spot.
Sydney Maughon, left, is the murdered man’s ex-girlfriend. McKenzie Davenport, right, went with her to storm his house. She is seen crying in court
Sydney Maughon looks distracted as she is denied a bond. Police believe she pulled the trigger on her ex-boyfriend. She allegedly threatened him and his new close friend in the hours before the event
Jeremy Munson, 18, arrives in court. He is said to have snatched the dying man’s necklace – containing his father’s ashes – and fled in the car
McKenzie Davenport was at the scene when the man died
In addition to the other charges, the two 18-year-olds have also been charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm while committing a crime.
At the hearing on Thursday morning, they were all denied bail.
Gilbert and his ex-girlfriend Sydney Maughon reportedly had an “ongoing lover’s feud” after Gilbert became closer to another woman, Kaylee Morgan.
Morgan, who was in the house when the harrowing started, told NewsNation that Gilbert “came out to confront her (Sydney), and they all ran back 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 lived for about 10 minutes, begging for someone.
‘It’s very sad. Because that’s how he lost his father. From what I heard, Jeremy got out of the car and snatched his chain off him.
“It was his father’s ashes. He begged for his life and no one knows what was going through his mind.’
Kaylee also explained that the harassment by Johnathan’s ex-girlfriend was not a one-off. Sydney had threatened them both in the hours and days before this event.
Kaylee, Johnathan’s close friend, now wears his ashes in a locket around her neck.
Johnathan Gilbert, also known as Tyler Lane, 22, was found motionless in the middle of Dobbins Mill Road. The three teens were harassing his house when he came out and confronted them
Sydney, Johnathan’s ex-girlfriend who was riding in the back seat of the car, pulled out a firearm and shot him multiple times, police said
Sydney Maughon, 18, went to her ex-boyfriend’s house with her two friends
Kaylee Morgan (pictured) was in the house at the time of the eggs and shoot. 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, the detectives managed to locate a witness who gave them enough evidence to make a connection between the victim and the suspects.
In a statement, Dix said, “Using that information, investigators began their search for the suspects, found a cell phone number associated with one of them, and tracked it to a location in Henry County.
“At that point, 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 during the hearing
The trio are each charged with intent to murder, battery and criminal trespass after Johnathan Gilbert, 22, was shot dead on July 3 in Griffin, Georgia
Two of the teens will appear in court on August 3, 2023
“During the search, they recovered the car used in the crime, along with the gun we believe was used to shoot Gilbert.”
As the investigation progressed, more suspects were developed and eventually arrested.
Dix continued, “It appears there was a continuing argument between lovers, and the suspects decided to go to Gilbert’s residence on Dobbins Mill and destroy it by vandalizing it.”
“When Gilbert saw what they were doing to his residence, he came out of the house unarmed to confront them.
The suspects ran back to the car, and as Gilbert approached them, Sydney Maughon, a backseat passenger in the car, pulled out a firearm and shot him several times.
The remains of egg spatter can be seen 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 raid a house, the victim confronted them while they were doing it, he lost his life, and they drove off, leaving his body in the middle of the road.
‘They bought that ticket together; now they can take that ride together.’
In Georgia, a charge of “murder with intent” indicates a murderous crime with intent. Prosecutors believe all three teens involved deserve to be charged.
Sydney Maughon, 18, allegedly fired the fatal shot from the backseat of the passenger that killed Gilbert
The three allegedly engaged in an ongoing lovers’ argument and allegedly assaulted Gilbert’s home prior to the shooting.
Since his death, tributes have been paid to Gilbert on social media.
One person said, “I am so heartbroken that you are gone. I don’t even have the words to express what I feel, 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 wonderful young man and he loved with all his heart.
“He will be forever missed. This world won’t be the same without him in it.’
The 22-year-old’s mother, Monica Gilbert, said: “I have a hole in my soul and in my spirit that will never be filled. What I’m going through right now no parent should go through, no mother and no father.
“My little ‘Ty bug’ was so loved by everyone he met that he had an infectious smile and just big, huge blue eyes.”
“He really tried to turn his life around, and he definitely left a hole in our hearts,” said Tyler’s grandmother, Pamela Eisenberg.