HOME INVASIONS: Pair to be charged, says Williams

Published 1:55 pm Thursday, August 20, 2009

Two 16-year-olds already in custody in Gainesville will be charged in a July 29 home invasion robbery here while a 15-year-old will be charged in an attempted home invasion, Det. Sgt. Ron Shaw of the Live Oak Police Department said Thursday.

The 16-year-olds were arrested Aug. 8 on unrelated charges and are being held in a juvenile justice center in Gainesville. Shaw said the two will be charged in a home invasion robbery in the 1100 block of 2nd Street. The pair allegedly held several men at gunpoint with two handguns and what may have been an assault rifle at around 10:25 p.m. as the victims played cards. About $350 was taken.

“They have been positively identified by use of a photo lineup on the 2nd Street invasion,” said Shaw.

Jerome Cooks, of Ana Avenue, was arrested Aug. 8 for allegedly robbing a Hispanic man at gunpoint earlier that day in front of the JK Food Mart on Northeast Ohio Avenue.

Jaron Devonte Webb, of SW 8th Street, was arrested shortly after Cooks by the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office for carrying a .380 caliber pistol while walking down Johnson Avenue and 6th Street.

Shaw said Thursday morning that paperwork to have the pair returned from Gainesville was nearly complete. He said the two may be charged as adults.

Shaw said 15-year-old Tyler Austin Carter was identified by photo lineup for allegedly attempting to invade a home in the Live Oak Pines mobile home park June 4 at around 11:50 p.m. According to Shaw, Carter and three black males entered the home, demanded money and left after receiving none. The suspects then allegedly confronted another Hispanic male as he was walking toward the home but were chased off by the man and another person inside the home. Shaw said an independent witness saw the crime occur and came forward to identify Carter.

According to Shaw, Carter has since relocated to Leon County where he has absconded from probation. Shaw said a pickup order would be sent to the Tallahassee Police Department for his arrest.

Live Oak has been the scene of 24 reported home invasions since December. The July 29 robbery was the 23rd such crime. Almost all have targeted the city’s Hispanic community. The victims of the July 29 crime were African American.