- Jacksonville Murder 1.jpeg (23.2 KiB) Viewed 120 times
- Jacksonville Murder 2.jpeg (19.26 KiB) Viewed 120 times
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – Two of the six people charged in the deadly shooting of Jacksonville 7-year-old Breon Allen Jr. in January have entered guilty pleas in the case.
Tavaris Kelly, 17, and Zharod Sykes, 24, changed their pleas to guilty in the deadly shooting, which also seriously injured Breon’s cousin, Lafayette Mango Jr., 21.
Kelly, one of the gunmen who fired at Breon and his cousin, according to police, pleaded guilty on July 16 to second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and two gun charges.
News4JAX spoke to the child’s mom, who identified him as 7-year-old Breon Allen. She said the two were on the way to the corner store when the shots rang out.
Sykes pleaded guilty on June 24 to second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The other four defendants -- Donte McGhee, 17; Keith Fields, 18; Dannel Larkins, 20; and Keith Johnson, 21 -- have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
McGhee, the other gunman, according to police, is also charged with attempted first-degree murder and shooting or throwing deadly missiles. He is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 28.
Johnson and Fields are also charged with attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Fields is due back in court on Aug. 28, and Johnson will be back in court on Sept. 4.
JSO said 18-year-old Keith Fields, 20-year-old Dannel Larkins, 21-year-old Keith Johnson, and 24-year-old Zharod Sykes are facing several charges in connection with the shooting that killed Breon Allen Jr. and seriously injured his cousin, Lafayette Mango Jr., 21.
Larkins is also charged with tampering with evidence and is due back in court on Sept. 3.
Kelly’s plea agreement is sealed, but court documents show that Sykes agreed to “testify truthfully against co-defendants” in his plea deal.
Sykes’ plea deal did not include a negotiated sentence, and he could face a maximum of life in prison for the second-degree murder charge and 30 years each on the other charges.
Johnson is also facing charges in two unrelated cases.
Sheriff T.K. Waters said the shooting was “a targeted, planned act of bloodshed,” adding that it was gang-affiliated.
According to the arrest warrants for Fields, Larkins, Johnson and Sykes, the suspects were members or associates of 6 block and the shooting that took Allen’s life “was motivated with the purpose to benefit, promote, and/or further the interest of the criminal gang.”
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/202 ... ad-guilty/