Two men convicted in 2021 murder of 16-year-old Ahmori Searcy in Macon
According to a news release, Zontravion Keontae Hernandez and Vernon Grable have been convicted by a Bibb County jury for their roles in the March 3, 2021 murder that took place at the Majestic Garden apartment complex in Macon.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Two men have been convicted for the 2021 murder of 16-year-old Ahmori Searcy, according to the Macon Judicial Circuit District.
According to a news release, Zontravion Keontae Hernandez and Vernon Grable have been convicted by a Bibb County jury for their roles in the March 3, 2021 murder that took place at the Majestic Garden apartment complex in Macon.
The jury returned its verdict late Thursday afternoon after just over two hours of deliberation.
Hernandez was convicted of malice murder and aggravated assault. He received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the malice murder count, plus 20 years to serve concurrently for aggravated assault.
Grable was convicted of felony murder and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for the felony murder count, with a concurrent 20-year sentence for aggravated assault.
On March 3, 2021, Hernandez and Grable attempted to rob the victim of guns at the Majestic Garden apartments. According to the DA’s office, the apartment complex is known as a hub for trading guns in the community.
Hernandez shot and killed Searcy during the attempted robbery. The DA’s office says surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the defendants in the area shortly before the shooting, and multiple witnesses identified them as the perpetrators.
According to the news release, prior to this conviction, Hernandez had pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a separate Bibb County case in August 2021. In addition, following the 2021 shooting, Grable was also convicted of felony theft by taking in Peach County in October 2022 and felony possession of marijuana in Bibb County in October 2023.
“This senseless act of violence took the life of a 16-year-old from our community,” said Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard. “While nothing can bring Ahmori back to his family and friends, we hope these convictions and sentences will bring some measure of justice and closure to his loved ones. We as a community must stand up and end this violence. Our children depend on us. In addition, we are grateful to the witnesses for assisting us in holding these men accountable for Ahmori’s murder.”
