This case presents numererous questions regarding how and why Port Wentworth police officers let the rountine questioning of a man suspected of robbery escalate into a fatal shooting of that individual.
What is not clear in this story is how police were led to the address in this subdivision were 20 year old Deshone Travis was found. Deshone did not live at this home but was reportedly visiting a friend. Neighbors say they did see police go into this house. What is not clear is whether the police entered the house before the shooting or after. If neighbors saw the police enter the house before the shooting then why did police let a robbery suspect leave the premises then enter his vehicle. If the police exited the house first and the suspect last the question arises as to why did police exit house and position themselves outside. Why wasn't the robbery suspect taken into custody either inside the home or before he entered his vehicle. Another question which needs answering is whether police had a description of suspect's vehicle. If a description was provided then why didn't police use their vehicle to block any exit of suspect's vehicle parked in the driveway.
One fact remains clear there have been no reports of any weapons found on the suspect or in his vehicle.
A car dent, glass fragments and a Georgia State Patrol officer are just a few reminders of what happened early Tuesday morning just after midnight. Port Wentworth police say a robbery suspect tried to back his over them...when they began firing shots killing 20 year old Deshone Travis.
“By the time I heard that the car was already backing up the police were aiming and shooting at the car and I wondered what just happened there,” said neighbor Jude Lazare.
Lazare was sleeping in his home right across the street when the chaos woke him up. He says he first heard shouting then gun shots. Then he looked out of the window to see the car backing into his mailbox and then all the way into his car causing this dent.
It's believed Travis was already shot when that accident happened.
The GBI is currently handling this investigation, but what we are told at this point, police were questioning Travis about his involvement in a robbery that happened at Wendy’s in Pooler Monday night. Neighbors say they did see the police go into this house. But what they didn't see was what happened when the shots were fired.
Now, they too want answers.
“If they really wanted this guy not to leave then just ask him not to enter the car,” said Lazare. “Instead of him getting in the car and then he tries to move and then have to stop him by killing him.”
Frank Skubic lives right next door from the house. He was coming home from a late shift when he came across the whole scene.
“Took me about 45 minutes before I could get to the house,” said Skubic. “And when I came back they had everything roped off. And I realized they'd had been a shooting next door.”
That’s something that Skubic says doesn't happen is this neighborhood.
“Very surprised,” said Skubic. “It's a real nice neighborhood, very quiet and I haven't had any problems here.”
Neighbors say, Deshone Travis, did not live in this neighborhood. We are told he was visiting a friend.
The GBI is investigating this case. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as per standard procedure.
