A Brantley man has been convicted and sentenced for murder after a 2021 “puppy- deal-gone-wrong” disagreement resulted in the shooting death of a Dozier man.

Judge Cleve Poole sentenced Savion Jamall Jones, 25, to 55 years in prison during a Sept. 5 sentencing hearing. The sentence resulted from Jones’s conviction in the Jan. 15, 2021 murder of Xavius Young of Dozier.

“Savion Jones was convicted of murder by a jury and Judge Poole gave him 55 years,” said District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer.

Court records reveal Jones murdered Young after an argument over a prepaid puppy purchase. A deposition by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigator David Hamby, who talked with Jones at the crime scene, attests to statements Jones made after the murder.

“According to Jones, the victim, Xavius Young, [owed] him a pit bull puppy,” Hamby wrote. “Jones stated he had given Young $200.”

In his written statement, Hamby described how Jones admitted taking a Glock 9 mm handgun away from Young before shooting the victim with it.

“He then shot seven times,” Hamby wrote. “Two shots [hit] him, the victim, in the back.”

An arrest warrant was issued, and Jones was taken into custody and charged with Young’s murder on Jan. 16, 2021. His address of record was listed in Georgiana but found to be in Brantley upon his arrest. Jones played middle linebacker for Brantley School before his graduation in 2016.

After his arrest, Jones was held under $500,000 bond, with the added condition he was not to be released until the conclusion of Young’s funeral.

Court records from the sentencing hearing show Poole ruled Jones will pay court costs, a fine of $10,000, Alabama Crime Victims Compensation in the amount of $1,000, a yet-to-be-determined amount of appointed attorney fees, and restitution of $1,500 to Chynel Coleman of Dozier. 

According to the order, Jones will pay the fees in $150 installments each month beginning on his date of release, with payments applied to restitution first.