Botched Carjacking Suspect Acquitted of Murder

One of four men who was indicted on various charges in relation to a botched carjacking in southwest Cherokee County has been found not guilty of felony murder.

A Cherokee County jury late last month acquitted Jumar Greer of the felony murder charge, but convicted him on the armed robbery, aggravated assault with the intent to rob, hijacking a motor vehicle, kidnapping, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony charges.

Greer earlier this year entered a not guilty plea for his part in the crime.

District Attorney Shannon Wallace said Greer’s co-defendant Maurice Perkins ”accepted responsibility for the homicide in this case when he entered a plea to voluntary manslaughter.”

“Although the jury did not hold Greer responsible for shooting the murder weapon, they unanimously convicted him of kidnapping with bodily injury, armed robbery, aggravated assault, hijacking a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, thus exposing him to more than one life sentence in prison,“ she added. “We respect the jury’s verdict and appreciate their work in this tragic case.”

Deputies with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, responded to a fatal accident along Highway 92 just west of Wade Green Road in southwest Cherokee County. A late model white Dodge Charger left the roadway, traveled down an embankment and hit a small tree.

The owner of the car, Justin Humphries, 19, of Acworth, told authorities he was carjacked, hit in the head with a pistol and then “placed in the back of the car and restrained,” according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. Humphries was treated at a local hospital and later released.

The driver of the vehicle and suspect in the crime, 27-year-old Rodrigueze Erashee Qrestopher Guirty, — who also was known as Andre Rodriguez — received a fatal gunshot wound to his upper torso.

Greer, along with fellow suspects Maurice Perkins, Quovadis Arrington, and Tavaris Arrington, were all arrested and indicted in relation to the incident.

Both Quovadis and Tavaris Arrington were each indicted on hindering apprehension or punishment of a criminal. Additionally, Tavarus Arrington was indicted on making a false statement.

According to the indictment, both Perkins and Greer struggled with Humphries for control over a black Ruger .380 caliber pistol when the gun discharged and fatally hit Guirty.

Perkins, who was also charged with the same offenses as Greer, accepted a plea deal with the state that gave him a sentence of 40 years in prison. He’s eligible for parole after 20 years. Both Tavaris and Quovadis Arrington have yet to go to trial.

(Photo: Jumar Greer. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office)