14-year-old ‘escape driver’ among 4 Jacksonville teens charged with triple murder

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

JSO Director of Investigations Mike Bruno said on Wednesday that a 14-year-old girl who had previously been convicted of a felony was driving the car that fled from Calloway Cove apartments on West Moncrief Road after the shooting. Officers from the gang unit, who worked inside the compound and heard the gunshots, chased the car nearly 3 miles before performing a PIT maneuver to crash it.

The girl, along with Keon Lester, 18, and Kyshawn and Owen Laureano Cosme, both 17, are all charged with second degree murder and criminal conspiracy. Detectives have yet to identify who the gunman was or any connection between those charged and the victims.

The 14-year-old woman, whom News4Jax does not name because of her age, is also accused of complicity and flight from a law enforcement officer. Bruno said all four had already been arrested for felony.

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Bruno said three handguns – one of which was partially disassembled – were recovered from the car, which police learned had been stolen in Clay County.

Bruno said that when the teens blurted out, “We didn’t shoot these people,” officers returned to the compound and searched until they found a woman and two men dead in an apartment in the city. building E. Also in the apartment, the police said they found. 100 oxycontin pills, a large ball of white powdery substance and a large amount of silver. Detectives believe the theft was the reason for the shooting.

Police said the four teenagers committed crimes against adults on Monday evening.

“It is not a random act of violence,” Bruno said. “It is shocking and appalling to see that you have children aged 14, 17, 18 committing crimes like this in our city.

The 18-year-old appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered to be held without bail.

Jacksonville Police no longer identify the victims of crime, but said they were the 27 and 30-year-old men and the 30-year-old woman.

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A GoFundMe site identified the female victim as a former attorney general’s office employee who “would do what was necessary for her son and his family.” The family requested that his name not be used.

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

The triple shoot took place around 11:50 p.m. on Monday. A neighbor told News4Jax that she heard what sounded like about 20 to 30 gunshots in the complex early on Tuesday.

The region has struggled with violent crime for years. In 2015, the Jacksonville City Council designated 4229 Moncrief Road as one of the best places in town where you were most likely to be a victim of violent crime.

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

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“We are saddened by this violence and sympathize with those affected by the incident,” the statement said in part. “Our property management and leadership teams are deeply committed to responding to this event and to cooperating with law enforcement officials as they continue their investigation. For those who may need help dealing with this difficult time, we have made counselors available to residents and staff. “

Anyone with information on this matter is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling 904-630-0500 or emailing [email protected]. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.