Dublin man sentenced to life for 2020 murder

A 24-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to life without the possibility of parole, plus 130 years, for his role in the July 2020 shooting death of another man outside an East Dublin convenience store.

Creuntae Floyd was sentenced a month after a Laurens County jury found him guilty in the death of 34-year-old Travis Latrail Plummer. He was convicted on nine counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, two counts of felony murder, one count of malice murder, four counts of aggravated assault, one count of possession of firearm during commission of a felony and one count of possession of a firearm by convicted felon.

“There were a whole lot of people there that night,” Dublin Circuit Superior Court Judge Trey Taylor said before handing down his sentence. “There were a lot of decent people there. A young man who had no harm or business with (Floyd). I’ve watched this video more times than I can count. It is by the grace of God that there weren’t more people hurt, injured or killed. … I think this is an appropriate sentence, which is to the fullest extent of the law.” 

In all, three men were arrested for their roles in the shooting: Floyd, Jamil Thompkins and Tevin Tobridge. Thompkins pleaded guilty in a RICO case and received life with the possibility of parole. Tobridge is awaiting trial after his first case ended in a mistrial. 

Abigail Safford, assistant chief public defender, represented Floyd. She put his mother and second cousin on the stand to testify that they would like to see Floyd receive life with the possibility of parole, the same sentence Thompkins received. She notified Taylor that she had other family members in the courtroom who would all request the possibility of parole. 

Dublin Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Banks Hightower told the court that they had offered Floyd a 50-year sentence, to serve 25, as a plea deal.

“But he rolled the dice,” Hightower said. “He had that right. He thought I couldn’t win, but I did. That jury found him guilty on all counts. He gambled and lost. … Mr. Plummer is dead by the action of three young men who thought they owned the streets of Laurens County.”

Plummer had been sitting in his cousin’s car.

“He was out there talking,” Hightower said. “An argument happened and guns started firing. He got out of the car and three minutes later he was running for this life and got killed.” 

Around 2:15 a.m. on July 12, officers with the East Dublin Police Department were at the Friendly Gus, 309 Central Dr., to clear the parking lot that had more than 100 people who had congregated there. According to an EDPD report, officers saw Tobridge and Thompkins leave the store before a fight started between two men. Weapons were retrieved and officers saw Tobridge, Thompkins and Floyd firing into the crowd. 

East Dublin Police Chief Bill Luecke called the incident a tragedy. 

“(Plummer) was not bothering anybody,” Luecke said in 2020. “He was a fine man and comes from a wonderful family.”

Many of the store’s windows were shot out and many vehicles received damage. Hightower thanked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, including GBI Special Agent Jason Shoudel, and the EDPD for their job with collecting evidence and finding the suspects.

“We’re glad to get this done for the family when it comes to this defendant,” Hightower said. “We have one more co-defendant. The people who were out there that night had nothing to do with the commotion that was going on. They were out there getting gas, refreshments and having a fun summer night. All of sudden they heard gunshots, and they were running for their lives.”