JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After an exhaustive search that lasted for nearly a month, police announced an arrest Tuesday night in the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy during an attempted carjacking.
Damian Hughes, a fourth-grade honor student, was shot several times Dec. 19 and was then ejected from the vehicle as his 16-year-old sister sped away and crashed a few blocks later.
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The sister, also shot, lost control of the vehicle and crashed the car. She is recovering from her injuries.
Police said Damian died of gunshot wounds.
Police arrested Frank "Tanker" Carn, 21, on grand theft charges, but he then confessed to the carjacking and murder of Hughes.
Sheriff John Rutherford announced the break in the case late Tuesday night.
"The detectives you see behind me have literally spent hundreds of hours of investigative time sifting through leads," Rutherford said.
Channel 4's Jennifer Waugh talked with Carn's mother, Rhonda, who said her son admitted to being at scene of the crime, but that he did not shoot Hughes.
"He said he drove the car. He said he was scared to get out of the car with his friends because they had a lot of guns, but when he told them to let him out, they wouldn't," Rhonda said.
Carn's mother was emotional after seeing her son in shackles in the courtroom Wednesday afternoon. She said it was just about a year ago that he was released after serving four years in prison for stealing cars.
"He said 'Momma, I ain't did nothing.' He said he didn't do it. He said he didn't shoot nobody. He said he loves kids," said Rhonda.
At Tuesday night's news conference, police named four other men they called persons of interest in the case.
Police have arrest warrants for Dale Leonard Jones, 24, and Keith "KiKi" Johnson, 25, both wanted on weapons violations. They also want to question Kesario "Rio" Johnson, 20, about the case.
Rhonda said she wants the other men to come in and talk with the police for her son's sake.
Early Wednesday, police located the fourth man wanted for questioning and say they do not anticipate any charges against him.
Damian's father told Channel 4 that he is thankful for a break in the case and that one person is charged with his son's death. He and police hope the public will continue to provide tips to find the others involved.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the other persons of interest in the case are asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at (904) 630-2172, or you can remain anonymous by calling Crimestoppers at (866) 845-TIPS.
Public Pitches In To Find 'Persons Of Interest' Police have been receiving tip after tip since they announced on Tuesday night the names of four persons of interest in the shooting death of Damian Hughes.
Numerous people have come forward saying they saw the men police want to talk to about the case.
After Frank Carn, 21, was arrested on grand theft charges and later confessed to the carjacking and murder of Hughes, police announced the names of three other men they would like to speak to about the crime.
According to police, Dale Jones and Keith Johnson are wanted for weapons violations. Police said they only want to talk to Kesario Johnson.
"'We are receiving a lot of information from the community. Obviously, the community is behind us, trying to help us and giving us information," said assistant Chief Rick Graham.
Police converged on the complex at Cleveland Arms Apartments in Northwest Jacksonville on Wednesday afternoon looking for clues, after they were told Johnson might be there.
"We have some information that these guys may be headed toward Atlanta. Therefore, we are reaching out to the Atlanta community to also help us there as well," Graham said.
Police said the men could be dangerous.
Channel 4 checked the arrest records of the men believed to be involved in Hughes' death, including Carn, who is currently under arrest and charged with murder. He he was arrested for aggravated assault in 2001 and arrested again earlier this week for car theft, but that charge was bumped up to murder.
Jones, who police are still searching for, has several drug arrests and a robbery charge in 1999.
Johnson has a long history of car theft, grand theft and burglary charges. He was also picked up for aggravated assault and weapons violations.
Police questioned another individual Wednesday morning and said they learned some information, but that person was not arrested.
Previous Stories:
- January 18, 2006: Man Arrested, Three More Sought In Boy's Death
- December 23, 2005: Family, Friends Say Goodbye To Young Murder Victim
- December 20, 2005: Police Seek Public's Help Finding 11-Year-Old Boy's Killers
- December 19, 2005: 11-Year-Old Killed In One Of Two Homicides