Two of the six young men arrested in the gang-related shooting death of 7-year-old Breon Allen Jr. have now been charged in a second shooting death of a 43-year-old woman about a year ago.
Tuesday the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced that 20-year-old Dannel Lenoir Larkins was charged on April 10 with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the April 22 death of Valondia Valencia Norris outside the Gregory Cove Apartments on Edenfield Road. Keith Bernard Johnson, 21, had already been charged on Jan. 28 with accessory after the fact and tampering in the same case.
An arrest report states several witnesses said Norris had just left her apartment and was shot by two assailants in the parking lot toward her vehicle and left in a red sedan. Security video and a license plate reader identified it as a Hyundai Sonata rented to Johnson on April 21. A video also was shared with investigators of two males getting out of the vehicle two days later and setting items from the trunk on fire in a dumpster. Investigators found a partially burned license plate, black clothing and masks.
The motive was unknown or not reported.
Norris’ obituary said she was “known for her compassionate nature and dedicated her life to being a caregiver. She found fulfillment in helping and supporting others, embodying the values of empathy and selflessness.”
On March 12, the Sheriff’s Office announced their arrests along with Keith Bernard Fields Jr., 19, and Zharod Deangelo Sykes, 24, on charges of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted first-degree murder in the ambush of Breon and the intended target, his 21-year-old cousin who survived.
Then on March 28, the Sheriff’s Office announced the final two arrests of Donte McGhee, 17, and Tavaris Kelly, 17, stating they are believed to be the two triggermen.
The arrest warrants say a rap song made by ATK (Yungeen Ace’s Top Killers) gang members dissing 6 Block gang members, including slain rapper Julio Foolio, preceded the shooting and that Breon’s cousin was one of the rappers behind the song.
Court records show Larkins’ arraignment for the new charges are scheduled for May 1 and April 29 for the other case. He pleaded not guilty in Breon’s on April 3. Johnson pleaded not guilty on March 4 in Norris’ case with pretrial set for May 1. For the double shooting, he pleaded not guilty on April 3 with pretrial also set for May 1.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Pair in Jacksonville boy’s gang-related death are charged in 2nd murder