Plant City, Florida – Demarius Wilson has been apprehended on charges of tampering with evidence in connection with a shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including his brother Kemarius.
Authorities took Wilson into custody nearly two months after the tragic shooting outside a Lakeland apartment complex that claimed the lives of his brother and a 3-year-old child. The arrest of the 22-year-old suspect occurred following a traffic stop conducted by the Plant City Police Department just after 9 p.m. on Monday.
Law enforcement officers had been actively seeking Wilson since the fatal shooting that occurred on March 11 at 1850 Cambridge Cove Circle in Lakeland. On that fateful night, four individuals, including a 3-year-old boy, a 3-month-old girl, their mother, and another adult male were sitting in a vehicle at the Cambridge Cove Apartments when they were approached by three armed men in a white Dodge Challenger.
During the ensuing confrontation, shots were exchanged between the occupants of the two vehicles. Tragically, the 3-year-old boy, Jaquez Norton, sustained fatal injuries in the exchange. Following the shooting, Wilson and another individual reportedly fled the scene in the Dodge Challenger, while the injured Kemarius Wilson was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police believe that after the shooting incident, Wilson attempted to conceal the Dodge Challenger, which was discovered at a residence on West Crawford Street near Lincoln Avenue. Wilson was subsequently arrested on charges of tampering with evidence related to the case.
In a statement following the arrest, Lakeland Police Department Chief Sammy Taylor expressed gratitude to the public for their assistance in providing leads and tips, as well as appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Plant City Police Department. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with authorities committed to ensuring that all individuals involved in the crime are held accountable.
A second suspect, Kevarius Green, turned himself in to authorities on March 19 and is facing charges of first-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and attempted first-degree murder in connection with the same shooting incident.