JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four teenagers are accused of murder in the shooting deaths of a woman and two men late Monday night in a Northwest Jacksonville apartment. A young mother who briefly worked for the State Attorney’s Office was one of the victims.
JSO Director of Investigations Mike Bruno said Wednesday a 14-year-old girl who had previously been convicted of a felony was driving the car that fled the Calloway Cove apartments off West Moncrief Road after the shootings. Officers with the gang unit, who had been working inside the complex and heard the gunfire, chased the car for almost 3 miles before conducting a PIT maneuver to cause it to crash.
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 not yet identified who was the shooter or any connection between those charged and the victims.
The 14-year-old, who News4Jax is not naming because of her age, is also charged with accessory and fleeing a law enforcement officer. Bruno said all four have previous felony arrests.
Bruno said three handguns -- one partially disassembled -- were recovered from the car, which police learned was stolen out of Clay County.
Bruno said when the teenagers blurted out, “We didn’t shoot those people,” officers returned to the complex and searched until they found a woman and two men dead in an apartment in Building E. Also in the apartment police said they found over 100 oxycontin pills, a large ball of white powdery substance and a large amount of cash. Detectives believe robbery was the motive for the shootings.
Police said these four teens committed adult crimes Monday night.
“This is not a random act of violence,” Bruno said. “It’s shocking and appalling when you see that you’ve got kids -- 14, 17, 18 years old -- out there committing crimes like this in our city.”
The 18-year-old appeared in court Wednesday and was ordered held without bond.
Jacksonville police no longer identify victims of crime but did say they were the men were 27 and 30 years old and the woman was 30.
A GoFundMe site identified the woman victim as a former employee of the State Attorney’s Office who “would do what was needed for her son and family.” The family asked that her name not be used.
“If you truly met (her), you loved her for who she was inside and out,” her family wrote on the page. “May (her) character and love be with us forever and keep her spirit alive and positive.”
The triple shooting happened about 11:50 p.m. Monday. A neighbor told News4Jax she heard what sounded like an estimated 20-30 gunshots at the complex early Tuesday.
The area has wrestled with violent crime for years. In 2015, Jacksonville City Council named 4229 Moncrief Road as one of the top locations in the city you were most likely to be a victim of a violent crime.
In 2018, Millennia Companies bought the complex at 4229 W. Moncrief Road and spent $10.6 million on renovations. A spokesperson for the company issued a statement to News4Jax in response to Monday’s violence.
“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 engaged in responding to this event and cooperating with law enforcement officials as they continue their investigation. For those who may need help coping during this difficult time, we have made counselors available for residents and staff.”
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling 904-630-0500 or via email at JSOCrimeTips@JaxSheriff.org. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.