Grand Jury indicts three for murder, including 13-year-old girl

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On June 4, the Alachua County Spring Term Grand Jury issued indictments in three murder cases, including a first-degree murder charge against a 13-year-old girl.

James Tate: Shooting in Suburban Heights home on January 11, 2024

At about 2:40 a.m. on January 11, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers responded to 4720 NW 16th Place in Suburban Heights and found one man dead; a second victim reported that he had escaped through a window after someone shot through his locked bedroom door. The second victim suffered numerous severe lacerations.

The investigation revealed that all three men were from Mississippi, and the suspect and the second victim were employed by the murder victim, later identified as Marvin Miller. They arrived in Gainesville on January 3 to do a demolition project and were staying at the house, an Airbnb, while in Gainesville. The suspect, James Thomas Tate, 29, was later captured in Columbia County as he fled in the murder victim’s truck.

The Spring Term Grand Jury returned a True Bill indicting Tate for first-degree murder, attempted murder in the first degree, grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, and aggravated fleeing and eluding.

Romanda Thompson: Beating death near Tom Petty Park on February 28, 2024

The victim’s body was discovered behind a piece of machinery in the 200 block of NE 16th Avenue at about 11:30 a.m. on February 28; the body had visible injuries, including bruises, swelling, and lacerations on his face and hands. The victim was later identified as Kelly Barnes.

GPD Detectives determined that Romanda Lacasey Thompson, 33, attacked the victim at his campsite near Tom Petty Park, incapacitated the victim, then dragged him, still struggling, behind a piece of heavy machinery about 50 feet away from the campsite. The victim was reportedly still conscious and grabbed the tires to try to pull away from Thompson. The heavy machinery concealed the incident from passersby on NE 16th Avenue, and Thompson allegedly beat the victim to death, stomping on his face and strangling him.

The Spring Term Grand Jury returned a True Bill indicting Thompson for first-degree murder.

Ke’mani Hill: Tiger Bay robbery and murder on April 19, 2024

At about 11:42 a.m. on April 19, GPD Officers responded to Tiger Bay Apartments (484 SE 24th Dr.) and found a male victim, later identified as Wilber Perez, deceased inside his vehicle.

A witness reportedly said he had been with co-defendant Zion Mykell James, 14, before the shooting, and he believed that James and Ke’mani Narda Lee Hill, 13, intended to rob the victim of marijuana. The witness reportedly said that James used a “Cash App glitch” (pretending to send a payment while the phone is in airplane mode) to pretend to pay the victim, then James allegedly snatched a small bag of marijuana from the victim and ran. The witness said that after James grabbed the marijuana, he saw the victim smile and begin to drive away, but then Hill allegedly pulled out a small gun and shot at the victim. James has already been charged as an adult.

The Spring Term Grand Jury returned a True Bill indicting Hill for first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm, shooting into a vehicle, possession of a firearm by a minor under 18, and conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm.

The cases were presented by State Attorney Brian Kramer, Assistant State Attorney Daniel Ley, and Assistant State Attorney Glenn Bryan, and the findings were received by Judge Jonathan Ramsey. Judge Ramsey ordered all three defendants held without bail, and he ordered Hill to be transferred to the adult jail.