Gathering of friends turns deadly in Statesboro, manhunt underway

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - A manhunt is underway in Statesboro to find a man wanted for felony murder. 

WTOC spoke to those who were around the murder scene. 

A gathering of friends turned deadly after one person lost his life and another was sent to the hospital.

Police say it happened in the parking lot in front of a smoke shop, right across from Paulson Stadium, around 1 a.m. Saturday. 

There was a crowd hanging out in front of the smoke shop. 

Kearvis Newton was leaving the nearby bar. 

“I just saw a group of people and somebody started shooting. I just heard shots and I ran,” said Newton.

Investigators say 21-year-old Khalir Nickens is wanted in connection with the murder of 30-year-old Deontre Mincey. 

Store owner Wail Alshuaibi, says he was called to the scene and they looked through their security video. 

“We were all shaken up by what just happened,” said Alshuaibi.

In a video, you can see two men fighting in front of a crowd. 

Investigators confirm that Nickens was not involved in the fight but was unfortunately caught in the crossfire. 

Alshuaibi says he was friends with both the victim and suspect. 

“My friend he jumped on it trying to defend himself. But it shot two shots, one went to my store window. We don’t know where the second one went. But after that, three shots came from somewhere that struck the victim,” Alshuaibi.

Captain Akins at the Statesboro Police Department told us that this is not the first homicide to happen in this exact parking lot.

“Three homicides that I can remember right off hand that has some sort of connection that plaza and the activities going on in that particular plaza,” said Captain Akins.

The police are asking anyone in the public and that was in the crowd there Saturday, to come forward with any information that may help find Nickens.