TIFTON — Tift County Sheriff’s Office investigators and agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested three men Thursday in connection with the death of William Bernard “Nard” Thomas.

DeAnthony Raphael Davenport, 21, and Austin Jermaine McIntyre, 19, were each charged with malice murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Derrick Lamar Britt, 21, was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, theft by receiving stolen property, obstruction of an officer and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Thomas, 19, was shot on Aug. 22 while standing in his yard at 3116 Hillcrest Circle in Tift County. He was pronounced dead later at Tift Regional Medical Center.

Agents and investigators conducted interviews, developed information and executed search warrants during the course of the investigation that led to the identification and subsequent arrests of Davenport, McIintyre and Britt. The agencies thank the citizens in Tift County who provided information that helped in this investigation.

To contact editor Angye Morrison, call 382-4321.