20-year-old convicted in fatal shooting after firework dispute

ST. LOUIS – A 20-year-old man was convicted by a St. Louis jury on Thursday in connection to a fatal shooting after a firework dispute in 2022.

According to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney Office, Davon Griffin-Curry, 20, was found guilty for second-degree murder of Rickey Jemore Lathan, 35, on July 12, 2022, in the 2500 block of Semple Avenue in the city's Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.

Authorities said Lathan was outside with his 10-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, setting off fireworks around 11 p.m. While lighting the fireworks, a bottle rocket they set off hit the house of Griffin-Curry's grandparents across the street.

Davon's grandfather, Ronald Curry Sr., rushed out of their house in anger and confronted Lathan, telling him to shoot the fireworks off in a vacant parking lot.

During the argument, Davon, 18 at the time, and his younger brother Devin, 16 at the time, ran out from behind the house, both firing off 9 mm weapons. Lathan was hit ten times by the gunfire and died at the scene.

Devin, now 17, was certified as an adult to stand trial in April and was sentenced to 22 years in prison for second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

The jury recommended life in prison for Davon for second-degree murder and five years for armed criminal action.