Family house party turns deadly, Conyers Police announce $5,000 reward for second suspect in connected case

Story Updated June 18, 8:24 a.m.

Conyers, GA—The Conyers Police Department has announced  a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect involved in a shooting on June 14 at 1160 Forest Villa Drive in Conyers. 

That incident is connected to a June 13 shooting on Janice Lane that claimed the life of Dearrious Davenport, 30, of Conyers.

Davenport, a father of three children, was at a house party with cousins when an argument escalated into gun violence at 1290 Janice Lane.  Police were dispatched around 10:50 p.m. to the short, dead-end street where they found Davenport lying in the road from a gunshot wound. He died at the scene, police said. Davenport was trying to protect a younger female cousin, his wife, Aaliyah McGriff, told WSB-TV Channel 2. McGriff also mentioned in a social media post that her husband was trying to protect a family member when he was killed. 

Tamorris D. Tyler, 33, of Covington was arrested and charged with Davenport’s murder after authorities initiated an intensive five to six-hour manhunt in the Sigman Road and Old Camp Road area. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the search and Tyler’s arrest.. Tyler, who is an ex-convict, faces charges that include murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was booked into the Rockdale County Jail, authorities said. 

Conyers Police Captain Quantavis Garcia said during a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 17, that the family dispute continued on Saturday, June 14, as relatives were holding a vigil for Davenport at 1160 Forest Villa Drive, which is located in the Forest Villas subdivision, located just a few blocks away from Janice Lane where the first shooting took place. Several vehicles were reportedly damaged by gunfire in that shooting including one where bullets narrowly missed a 3-year-old child who was sitting in the back seat of a vehicle. A 15-year-old was inside the vehicle with the child. Fortunately, the children were not hurt, authorities said. 

Early today, On Common Ground News team found quiet at both scenes where the shootings took place. 

Captain Garcia said the police investigation remains active, vowing that  the suspect in the second shooting would be pursued “relentlessly” by authorities. 

“We want the citizens of our community to understand that this type of violence will not be tolerated in our city,” Capt. Garcia said. “We will continue to hunt and relentlessly pursue those who  are targeting our city and our citizens. And we ask that the public help us by providing information that will lead to their arrest.”   

Anyone with information concerning the shooting cases or the suspect at large is urged to contact the Conyers Police Department at 770-929-4203 or Crime Stoppers tip line at 404-577-TIPS. Tipsters can remain anonymous and maybe eligible for a $5,000 reward. 

Aaliyah McGriff has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to assist her and her three children as a result of the family’s tragedy. The page shows that  $1,800 has been raised so far. In her plea for  assistance, she stated that her husband was defending a family member when he was “taken,” saying: 

“He was taken from us during an innocent act of taking up for his family. The money he had was stolen was meant for our rent. It hurts beyond words to know that he died trying to provide for us, like he always did. I recently started a new job, and I’m doing everything I can to stay strong for our children, but I can’t do this alone.”

Photo via FB: Dearrious Davenport is pictured with his and Aaliya McGriff’s three children. 

Below: Snapshot of the entrance to the Forest Villas subdivision, where the second shooting occurred. Police are still trying to determine the suspect’s identity and have asked for the public’s help. Photo by On Common Ground News