Out on bond for manslaughter, 19-year-old Savannah suspect arrested twice for gun possession and prowling recently

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - After months with no public update, prosecutors recently filed a motion in the case against now 19-year-old Javonte Markel Ward to revoke his bond.

The State’s motion says they are looking to revoke Ward’s bond after they say he was caught carrying a gun, loitering, and prowling recently-twice.

He’s the teen charged with killing 21-year-old Kayla Davis back in 2023.

The two reportedly did not know each other.

These court documents confirm Ward is still charged with involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, making a false statement, and possession of a handgun while under 18.

Ward, who was 17 at the time, is charged with shooting Davis. Chatham County Police found her deceased near the scene.

Davis went to the corner store in her neighborhood and never came home. WTOC spoke with her family after Kayla died.

Kayla was killed on July 1st, 2023. Ward was arrested 5 days later, on July 6th, 2023. He was granted bond for the first time just a few months later.

Davis’ family has held vigils over the years in her honor. You can watch those here.

Now, in that motion, the state says Ward is at significant risk of committing further crimes if allowed to remain free on bond. The District Attorney’s office is asking that his bond be revoked and that Ward be held in custody until there is a final disposition of the case.

The motion reads, ‘While out on bond on the above charges, the defendant committed the offense of unlawful carrying of a firearm and loitering or prowling on September 30th, 2025.’, only mentioning one of his recent arrests.

There have not been any significant updates in his case on whether or not the judge has made a bond ruling after this motion.

This case in particular has been at somewhat of a standstill, with no trial scheduled on the record. Ward has only been scheduled for the ‘Competency Review Docket’ every month since July 2024.

This comes after multiple orders were filed to determine Ward’s competency.

Court documents reveal that a doctor previously performed a competency review on Ward three separate times while he was in the juvenile court system. After the first review in 2022, his opinion was that Ward was incompetent to stand trial and not likely to be restored.

A few months later, the same doctor said there was a possibility his competency could be restored.

The next year, in 2023, that doctor said Ward ‘continued to present with substantial deficits and remains incompetent to proceed’.

A different doctor, the following year in 2024, said she discovered the same findings after an evaluation, diagnosing him with several intellectual disabilities, and that ‘they are of a static nature and will not change.’

“She further stated that inpatient commitment is recommended, and it does not appear to be appropriate for him to live in the community at this time. That same doctor said the following about her findings,” the filing read.

There is a different competency evaluation from March 2024 that is under seal, and we do not have access to.

“His intelectual deficits, immpressionability and impulsive behavior place him and those around him at risk. His mother does not appear to be equipped to adequately manage all of his needs. He needs a residential setting for someone with intellecual disabilities that provides intensive supervision for his wherabouts and daily activities, and promotes structure in his daily life.”

Dr. Tara Polson, one of Ward's doctors.

He was involuntarily placed in inpatient custody of the DBHDD in June 2024, a mental health clinic in Savannah.

Since the shooting, he’s spent some time in jail, some at a mental health facility, and some out on bond.

He’s been arrested twice since being out, according to Savannah police. Once in June and once in September. In both cases, police say they found him with a loaded gun and one time, with gun magazines. He was charged with illegal possession of a weapon, and also with loitering and prowling each time.

WTOC reached out to Ward’s lawyer, who said she is not able to share any information about her client’s case.

According to the DA’s office, ‘Since this case is on the competency review docket, all the information about its progress is sealed.’

That judge in this case was previously Judge Morse, but is now Judge Penny Haas Freesemann.

The court will continue to review Ward’s status for a period, “not to exceed the maximum period for which the accused could have been sentenced on the most serious violent offense charged.”

Ward is being held at Georgia Regional Hospital in the meantime. No ruling on revoking his bond has been made yet.

All the while, the Davis family still awaits justice.

He’s due in court for a preliminary hearing on the loitering, prowling, and gun charges on Wednesday, November 4th.

We will continue to provide updates as they become available.