Christian Peterson
reporter@riverbendnews.org
On March 24, 2020, Suwannee County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) deputies responded to a call at the Holiday Inn Express on U.S. Highway 129, in Live Oak, in reference to a gunshot victim.
According to the SCSO report, when deputies arrived at the scene, they found a group of friends at the hotel, planning to attend a birthday party. While the group was in the parking lot, the victim was leaning against the vehicle. He was approached by a black male from the front of the vehicle, who was wearing a towel or shirt around his head as a mask. The victim then noticed a second man approaching from behind the vehicle. This individual was wearing a white plastic store- bought mask and an orange shirt, and was brandishing a firearm. The white-masked individual pressed the gun against the victim's abdomen and began threatening him and demanding his belongings.
The armed man then attempted to grab the victim's phone, at which point the victim fought back and hit the armed suspect. The suspect retaliated and struck the victim with the handle end of his gun. Another individual in the parking lot saw the altercation and rushed over in an attempt to help the victim. A small fight began, and the attacker eventually retreated, firing a shot from the gun before fleeing on foot. The two shots fired from the gun hit two different targets. One bullet hit a parked 2018 Ford F-150, causing over $1,000 of damage. The other bullet struck the victim in the left hip. Investigators later learned that the victim had to undergo numerous surgeries and had a total hip replacement.
Deputies began processing the scene as soon as they arrived and located the two shell casings. They also had a K-9 follow the escapee's scent, which led them behind a nearby restaurant. Here, they found the white plastic mask, which was covered in phrases and symbols that investigators believed to be gang related. Investigators obtained video surveillance footage from businesses around the area and saw the duo flee to the nearby Walmart parking lot.
Law enforcement continued investigating and, after multiple interviews, identified the two men as being involved with the Jasper street gang known as “38 Street.” The sheriff's office continued by interviewing associates of “38 Street,” who were able to identify the orange shirted man as 21-year-old Tyquan Ivey (17 at the time of the shooting). After finalizing the identity of Ivey, the sheriff's office tracked him down and arrested him, on Monday, Aug. 7. He was charged with robbery, aggravated battery and probation violation.