Local rapper found guilty of murdering Z'yon Person in August 2019

Antonio Davenport, 27, was found guilty on all charges stemming from the Aug. 18, 2019, shooting of Z'yon Person. The charges include murder and racketeering.

The shooting happened the night of Aug. 18, 2019, near the intersection of Duke and Leon streets.

Person was shot as he rode in a car with his aunt and at least one of his cousins. The family was headed to get snow cones in her SUV, when Davenport and his fellow gang members opened fire. They believed the Ford Explorer belonged to a rival.

Z'yon's grandmother, Sandra Person, reacted to Thursday's verdict.

"All I can do is say thank you, Jesus. We got justice for Z'yon," Sandra Person said. "I'm just so happy right now.

"These are happy tears. These are seriously happy tears. For the family, I want to say thank you, Jesus, and thank you for the team that put all of this together to make this happen. I just want to say, thank you."

Davenport's sentencing is set for Sept. 26. He's facing two life sentences.

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Davenport was a local hip-hop star with The 83 Babies. The band had released a music video and recorded several songs about gang violence and guns.

Sam Rose witnessed the shooting, which happened right in front of her Durham home.

"We heard about 15 shots when it happened," she told WRAL News in August 2019. "I saw what I thought was a motorcycle backfiring ... and they were right in a row, clearly traveling down the street.

“It was terrifying. It was probably over in about five seconds."

Sheryl Smith lost her own child to gun violence. That's why Smith says she's committed to fighting it in Durham.

Smith said she hopes Thursday's verdict against Davenport sets an example against crime in the city.

"If you don't hold the ones that commit these crime accountable, then you make it worse."