Meet-up through internet ‘backdoor’ page turns deadly, results in fourth shooting fatality in July

ALBANY – An Albany man is dead as a result of what police described as an attempted robbery set up through an internet website that advertises escort services, and his girlfriend is one of two people arrested and charged with murder in the fatal Saturday shooting.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler identified the victim as James Edward Murphy III. Murphy, 27, was shot once in the neck at the Knight’s Inn, located at 2444 N. Slappey Blvd.

Officers were dispatched to the hotel at about 7:53 a.m. on Saturday to a reported shooting, where they found Murphy with a gunshot wound, according to police. Charde’shay Jourdian King, whom police identified as Murphy’s girlfriend, was taken into custody at the hotel, police said.

The investigation revealed that Murphy, King and another man agreed to meet at the hotel after messaging on the ListCrawler internet site.

Through video footage, police were able to identify a second suspect and car, which later was found in Lee County. When police arrived at that location, Tyler Allison ran out of the back door of the residence and, after a brief foot chase, officers located him inside a vacant residence.

Allison, 19, has been charged with felony murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and armed robbery.

At the time of the arrest, he was out on bond related to an aggravated assault charge.

King, 28, has been charged with felony murder, conspiracy to commit a crime and prostitution.

Murphy’s death was the fourth slaying during the month of July and 13th in Dougherty County in 2024.

“We don’t usually have that many in a month,” Fowler said. “That’s more than usual.”

Albany Police Chief Michael Persley warned individuals to be wary of making arrangements on “backdoor” websites.

“You really don’t know with these sites,” he said.

Special Photo: APDSpecial Photo: APD