3 charged after Bradenton drug dealer robbery ends in fatal shooting, police say
Three people face murder charges in connection the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Bradenton late last month, police announced Thursday.
Bradenton police said they arrested Jeremiah Lilly, 18, and two teens after a botched robbery attempt on Aug. 25 led to the shooting death of 15-year-old Kayvon Dunbar.
Officers said they responded to the 400 block of 11th Avenue East around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 and found Dunbar outside a home with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he died early the next morning, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
Detectives said Dunbar, Lilly and the other suspects were all at the 11th Avenue East home that night when they devised a plan to rob a man described as one of their drug dealers.
Police said the group invited the man over, and one of them approached his car to try to distract him. According to police, the man noticed Dunbar and the others, who were wearing masks, approaching, and two of them were carrying guns.
Police said the drug dealer fired in self-defense and one suspect fired back. Dunbar died in the exchange of gunfire, according to police.
Police said the surviving suspects are charged with felony murder with a firearm because Dunbar was killed in the commission of an attempted armed robbery. The State Attorney’s Office will determine whether the teens will be prosecuted as adults, according to a news release.
The Bradenton Herald does not name juvenile suspects.
Detectives with the Bradenton Police Department and the Manatee Homicide Investigative Unit continue to investigate.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Brian Sands at brian.sands@BradentonPD.com or submit anonymous tips to Manatee Crime Stoppers at ManateeCrimestoppers.com or 866-634-8477.
