14-year-old ‘getaway driver’ among 4 Jacksonville teenagers accused of triple homicide

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – Four teenagers are charged with murder in the shooting deaths of a woman and two men on Monday night in an apartment in northwest Jacksonville. A young mother who worked briefly for the State Prosecutor’s Office was one of the victims.

JSO’s Director of Investigations Mike Bruno said on Wednesday that a 14-year-old girl who had already been convicted of a crime was driving the car that escaped from the Calloway Cove apartments on West Moncrief Road after the shooting. Police at the gang unit, who were working inside the compound and heard the shots, chased the car for almost 3 miles before carrying out a maneuver in the PIT to cause it to crash.

The girl, along with Keon Lester, 18, and Kyshawn and Owen Laureano Cosme, both 17, are accused of second-degree murder and criminal conspiracy. Detectives have not yet identified who was the sniper or any link between the accused and the victims.

The 14-year-old, whose name was not released by News4Jax due to her age, is also accused of an accomplice and the escape of a police officer. Bruno said that all four had been arrested for previous crimes.

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Bruno said that three revolvers – one partially dismantled – were recovered from the car, which the police learned was stolen from Clay County.

Bruno said when the teenagers blurted out, “We didn’t shoot those people,” the police returned to the compound and searched until they found a woman and two men killed in an apartment in Building E. Also in the apartment, the police said they found 100 pills of oxycontin. , a large ball of white powdery substance and a large amount of money. Detectives believe the theft was the reason for the shootings.

Police said these four teenagers had committed adult crimes on Monday night.

“This is not an act of random violence,” said Bruno. “It is shocking and astonishing when you see that you have children – 14, 17, 18 years old – committing crimes like this in our city.”

The 18-year-old appeared in court on Wednesday and was detained without bail.

Jacksonville police no longer identify victims of crime, but said it was the men who were 27 and 30 and the woman 30.

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A GoFundMe website identified the woman victim as a former state prosecutor who “would do whatever was necessary for her son and family”. The family asked not to be named.

“If you really knew her, you loved her for who she was inside and out,” wrote her family on the page. “May (your) character and love be with us forever and keep your spirit alive and positive.”

The triple shot happened around 11:50 pm on Monday. A neighbor told News4Jax that she heard what sounded like about 20-30 shots in the compound on Tuesday.

The area has been fighting violent crime for years. In 2015, Jacksonville City Council named 4229 Moncrief Road as one of the best places in town where you would likely fall victim to a violent crime.

In 2018, Millennia Companies purchased the complex at 4229 W. Moncrief Road and spent $ 10.6 million on renovations. A company spokesman issued a statement to News4Jax in response to Monday’s violence.

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“We are saddened by this violence and sympathized with the people affected by the incident,” said the statement in part. “Our property management and leadership teams are deeply committed to responding to this event and cooperating with law enforcement authorities as they continue their investigation. For those who need help during this difficult time, we provide counselors for residents and employees. “

Anyone with information about this case should contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling 904-630-0500 or via email [email protected]. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.