Bond denied for Macon man charged in 2015 killing outside Club Status

A group of friends gathered at Macon's Club Status Sept. 2 to celebrate someone's release from the Bibb County jail.

At some point, an argument broke out inside the Pio Nono Avenue club and spilled out into the parking lot.

Later, a Bibb County deputy responded to a report of a shooting at the business and found 29-year-old Aquallo Davis Jr. lying facedown outside, fatally shot.

Prosecutor Larissa Olliverre provided details of the case Thursday during a Bibb County Superior Court bond hearing for Gregory Bernard Staten Jr., the man charged in Davis' death.

Staten's lawyer, Kevin Bradley, argued that a "reasonable bond" should be set in the case.

"I don't believe that there's any physical evidence that's going to connect my client to this offense," Bradley said. "He strongly, strongly asserts his innocence."

Staten, 25, turned himself in to authorities Jan. 5 and has been held without bond at the county jail.

In order for him to be released, a parole hold also would have to be released.

Staten is on parole until 2017 for drug convictions, Olliverre said. Additionally, he was convicted in 2008 of dogfighting and cruelty to animals.

In arguing against Staten's receiving a bond, Olliverre said one witness told deputies he ran to the side of the outside of the club after hearing shooting and saw Davis with his hands in the air.

Then he saw Davis fall to the ground and a gray Jeep Cherokee speed away.

Investigators received tips after the killing and in following up on those tips spoke with two other witnesses.

One of the witnesses said he and a group of friends, including Staten, went to the club together. He saw Staten argue with someone outside the club and later saw Staten go to the Jeep, retrieve a gun and shoot Davis before he and Staten left in the Jeep, Olliverre said.

The witness chose Staten from a photo line-up as the man he saw shoot Davis, she said.

Another witness who also went to the club with Staten corroborated the witness's story, she said.

"We don't think bond is appropriate in this case," Olliverre said.

Bradley countered, questioning the possible bias of the witnesses and reiterating that Staten turned himself in to authorities.

"Nobody had to go and get him," he said.

Judge Verda Colvin denied bond for Staten, saying she took his past criminal record into account when making her decision.

To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Bond denied for Macon man charged in 2015 killing outside Club Status ."