Trial date set for 3 men charged in Pooler Amazon killing of young father

by Madalyn Bierster

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A trial date has been set for 3 out-of-state men charged in the killing of 21-year-old Keontae Grider, a local father who was shot outside his workplace.

The three defendants appeared in Chatham County Superior Court, where a judge scheduled the trial tentatively for April 26th, 2027.

Keontae Grider lost his life January 13th, 2025 while working at Amazon. He was on his lunch break outside when his family says he was cornered.

Shooting happened in January 2025

Pooler police responded to a shooting on Jan. 13, 2025, in the parking lot of the Amazon fulfillment center. Grider’s family says multiple men surrounded him near his car and cornered him while he was on break.

Investigators also believe the three men stole Grider’s backpack.

Pooler detectives identified Dekerius Thompson, Logan Blair and Matthew Allen as the people responsible.

Police said the three came from North Carolina or Virginia. They have since been extradited to face charges in Chatham County and have been held at the jail ever since.

Defendants held without bond

All three men are being held without bond at the Chatham County jail & appeared in court alongside counsel.

Dekerius Thompson speaking to his attorney Martin Hilliard who was recently assigned to the case.

One of the defendants, Dekerius Thompson, recently retained a new attorney, who needs to review the evidence in the case.

Defendant Matthew Allen (left), and Logan Blair (seated)

Prosecutors said the evidence includes gigabytes of messages and communications between the three suspects and other people. A judge set the next court date for February to address the evidence ahead of trial.

The trial is currently scheduled for April 26 of 2027.