2 Florida teens murdered months apart victims of gang violence, sheriff says

FLAGLER, Fla. – Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly stated the murders of two youngsters earlier this yr are believed to be related. On Tuesday, he introduced the arrests of three suspects in an investigation into their deaths.

Noah Smith, 16, was shot and killed in January of this yr whereas Keymari Hall, 16, was fatally shot in May.  Now three males, Tyrese Patterson, 20, Stephen Monroe, 23, and Devandre Williams, 18, are every going through expenses of first-degree homicide in Smith’s dying. Additionally, Williams is being charged with second-degree homicide and tried second-degree homicide with a firearm in Hall’s dying. There can be a warrant issued for the arrest of a fourth suspect, Terrell Sampson, 18, for tried second-degree homicide in Smith’s dying. He stays at giant. 

Sheriff Staly believes the killings stemmed from two gangs battling forwards and backwards, however he made it clear that Hall and Smith weren’t concerned within the gangs. 

“The victims of the homicide were good kids; they were innocent victims,” stated Sheriff Staly throughout a news convention. “They weren’t even the intended target.”

Staly stated detectives consider that Sampson was really the goal within the lethal taking pictures of Smith.

“Both cases in the wrong place at the wrong time is what it really was. These are good kids. That’s why I want to emphasize this,” he stated.

On the night of Jan. 12, Flagler County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a taking pictures on South Anderson Street in Bunnell, the place Smith was killed. An investigation was began by the Bunnell Police Department and later turned over to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit. The sheriff’s workplace additionally led the investigation of the May 3 homicide of Hall, who was shot and killed in Bunnell in proximity to Smith’s homicide location. Another individual was injured in that taking pictures incident close to the intersection of South Pine and East Booe streets.

Detectives stated they tracked social media profiles, interactions, messages, feedback, and different media to piece collectively the involvement of all 4 suspects. During the investigation, detectives stated it was additionally found there have been two opposing gangs within the county, referred to as the “Bunnell” facet and the “Palm Coast” facet. 

“These two groups chose ‘street justice’ to resolve disputes instead of cooperating with law enforcement,” the sheriff stated.

Patterson, Monroe, and Williams are being held on the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on no bond.  Authorities are asking anybody with information as to the whereabouts of Sampson to contact the sheriff’s workplace or name 911.

“We will not stop until we arrest you and I promise you, you will get caught,” Sheriff Staly stated.

During Tuesday’s news convention, Sheriff Staly launched new management on the Bunnell Police Department which now plans at hand over main instances corresponding to these to the sheriff’s workplace, which has extra assets. New Police Chief David Brannon stated he hopes to take a brand new method, which features a group clean-up occasion this weekend to assist join with the group.

“Showing the residents there the good guys, if you will, that we care about them, we care about their community, and we’re going to do everything we can to clean up their neighborhood as much as possible,” he stated.