Spring Term Grand Jury indicts 11 defendants on charges of racketeering, homicide, armed robbery, and more

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Eight of the defendants are under 20 years old

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – State Attorney Brian Kramer has announced that the Alachua County Spring Term Grand Jury has issued indictments against 11 defendants on charges of first degree murder, racketeering, robbery with a firearm, burglary with assault or battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm by a delinquent, and more. The indictment alleges that the defendants engaged in a “pattern of racketeering activity.”

The alleged crimes occurred between April 2017 and May 2022, and the American Legion shooting on June 24, 2021, investigated by Gainesville Police Department (GPD); the Copeland Park homicide on October 10, 2021, investigated by Alachua Police Department; the Green Apple Store shooting on October 12, 2021, investigated by GPD; the Harbor Cove shooting on December 27, 2021; and a homicide on January 1, 2022, investigated by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO), are all part of the overall case.

The indictment provides a list of incidents and activities that are “interrelated by distinguishing characteristics and not being isolated incidents,” including multiple incidents in which one or more of the defendants fled from officers with illegal narcotics and/or illegal firearms in the vehicle, multiple charges of possession of firearms by convicted delinquents or felons, and multiple incidents of stealing items from cars or retailers.

Other incidents listed in the indictment include:

• Delonte Bing (13 at the time) allegedly sold cannabis to another student at Fort Clarke Middle School on March 5, 2018.
• Javari Baptiste and others allegedly committed a home invasion robbery on June 17, 2018.
• On May 19, 2020, Quantavis Jackson, Jay’lene Wilson, Catrell Evans, and others allegedly fled into a residence when approached by an ASO Deputy regarding an investigation of juveniles in possession of firearms. Jackson and Evans allegedly tried to run out the back of the residence but saw a deputy there. The group allegedly streamed their refusal to cooperate with the deputies on social media, and Evans allegedly kicked a deputy in the face and damaged an ASO patrol vehicle.
• On May 26, 2020, Wilson, Bing, and others allegedly attacked a man and hit him repeatedly, including hitting him with a Razor scooter, while recording the attack, which they posted on social media.
• On September 26, 2020, Elton Banks and others allegedly fired guns at an occupied residence.
• On June 24, 2021, Baptiste (17 at the time) and another person allegedly engaged in a shoot-out at the American Legion, where a bystander was killed and several other bystanders were shot. Bing (16 at the time) also allegedly shot at someone on that date.
• On July 5, 2021, Bunn, Montrell Carter, Evans, Jackson, and Lorenzo Smith, Jr., allegedly robbed two people at gunpoint.
• On December 27, 2021, Wilson allegedly shot a man at Harbor Cove.
• On January 1, 2022, Tyree Johnson allegedly shot a man.
• On February 15, 2022, following Wilson’s arrest, Davis and another person battered a man after they saw a social media post showing he was the victim in the Harbor Cove shooting.
• Between April 13, 2022, and May 9, 2022, Davis allegedly posted a video on social media making threats to people who were too close to the police in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.

Defendants, ages, and bond on current charges (may not include bond on the newly-unveiled charges):

• Anthony Maurkice Bunn, 30, $3,150,000
• Elton E. Banks, Jr., 18, does not appear to be in custody
• Javari Doven Baptiste, 18, $3,685,000
• Delonte Arnell Bing, 17, no bond in one case and $1,175,000 in the other
• Montrell C. Carter, 20, no bond in one case and $2,685,000 in the others
• O’rion Malike Davis, 18, no bond
• Catrell Lavon Evans, 19, no bond in two cases and $1,092,500 in the others
• Quantavis Lavon Jackson, 18, $1,700,000
• Tyree Denyel Johnson, 18, no bond in two cases and $600,000 in the other
• Lorenzo J. F. Smith, Jr., 24, currently serving a 9-month sentence in the jail, no bond on three cases and $1,100,000 on the other
• Jay’lene Asheem Wilson, 18, no bond in one case and $1,000,000 in the others

State Attorney Brian Kramer commended ASO Detective Chris Weitzel for his hard work during the lengthy investigation.