Whitfield County man claims self-defense in slaying

Johnathan Durden

On April 9, police found Johnathan Durden standing in his Dalton, Ga., driveway with a bloody knife in his hand.

A Dodge Ram pickup was parked in the driveway with Durden’s girlfriend, Alexa Blubaugh, sitting in the front seat shirtless. Next to her, Ricky Grice Jr. was slumped over.

“I was trying to protect myself. He tried to shoot me,” Durden, 22, told the officer, who pointed his service weapon at Durden and ordered him to drop the knife.

This week Durden was indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges in the death of Grice, 28. Durden’s attorney, Jerry Moncus, said he will be able to prove that Durden was protecting himself.