A 15-year-old Irwinton girl was fatally shot Friday night at a residence outside of Tennille, and a 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her death, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a home on Hagan Circle at approximately 9:45 p.m. on June 19, 2026, after Washington County 911 received a report that a female had been shot.
When deputies arrived, they found the victim, identified as LuVenya Knight, 15, of Irwinton, unconscious and not breathing inside the residence. Deputies and emergency medical personnel immediately began life-saving efforts, but those attempts were unsuccessful. Knight was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said Kermarion Markel Washington, 22, of Tennille, was taken into custody shortly after the incident and was subsequently arrested. He is currently being held at the Washington County Jail pending a bond hearing in Washington County Superior Court.
Washington has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony murder, malice murder, child molestation, and statutory rape.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as investigators continue to gather evidence and determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Officials have stated that additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact law enforcement authorities.
