Suspect in violent Bradenton home invasion gets prison, judge rules
A violent 2023 home invasion in Bradenton that later sparked a retaliatory killing has ended with a decade-long prison sentence for one suspect, court records show.
A Manatee County judge sentenced 38-year-old James Flowers to 10 years in prison after he pleaded no contest Oct. 22 to home invasion robbery with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to court records.
Flowers’ attorney, John Nohlgren, told the Bradenton Herald that his client was “grateful that the State was willing to reach a fair, mutually agreeable resolution to the case.”
“He was very anxious to put this chapter of his life behind him. He is now focused on serving his sentence, improving himself while he is incarcerated, and returning to his family with a newfound sense of optimism for the future,” Nohlgren said.
Man convicted in Bradenton home robbery
Investigators said Flowers, who is from Tampa, was one of four men who forced their way into a home in the 400 block of Cantabria Trail in Bradenton on the morning of March 3, 2023.
The homeowner, Troy Lassiter, told police he had just taken the trash out with his son when he returned to the garage and saw several masked men armed with guns. The men ordered Lassiter to the ground, went through his pockets, removed his jewelry and pointed a gun at him, according to an arrest report.
Bradenton police said the group forced Lassiter into the living room and made him sit on the couch while they searched through bags, drawers and cabinets for valuables. At one point, police said one of the three men hit Lassiter on the side of the head with a gun.
Detectives said the men also restrained Lassiter’s girlfriend and three children.
The robbers stole thousands of dollars in cash, a large amount of jewelry and designer bags before fleeing, according to an arrest report.
DNA evidence pointed to Tampa man, officers say
Officers said they found blood on the garage floor that investigators later identified as belonging to Flowers through DNA analysis. Detectives obtained arrest warrants in September 2023, and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Flowers in Tampa that January, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
Flowers has multiple prior felony convictions, court records show, including a 2021 conviction in Hillsborough County for stolen property. He previously served prison time after a 2017 release for throwing a deadly missile, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance.
Bradenton robbery victim charged in ‘revenge’ shooting
The case later took another violent turn after police arrested Lassiter in Pinellas County for homicide in what they described as a revenge shooting. Investigators said Lassiter believed he was targeting one of the men who robbed him but killed the wrong person.
Detectives said 28-year-old Troy Lassiter and his nephew, Kevin Lassiter, tracked down 32-year-old Derrick Mims, who Troy Lassiter believed had taken part in the home invasion. Witnesses told police that on May 19, 2023, a gray BMW followed Mims to the Baypointe Preserve condominium complex in St. Petersburg. As Mims stood near his car in the parking lot, someone inside the BMW fired several shots, killing him, according to an arrest report.
Mims’ girlfriend told police both the driver and passenger had white shirts pulled up over their faces and that she later identified Troy Lassiter as the driver. Investigators later confirmed Mims had no role in the Bradenton home invasion.
Both Troy and Kevin Lassiter, 34, face first-degree murder charges in Pinellas County. Court records show their cases are scheduled to go to trial in July 2026.
Police search for others involved in Bradenton robbery
Police later identified 30-year-old James Reid, Tampa, as another suspect in the Bradenton robbery after his arrest in Pasco County on charges stemming from a homicide during a separate home invasion. He was charged in April 2024 in connection with the Bradenton case, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
Reid’s Manatee County case remains open, and no trial date has been set, court records show. His separate Pasco County homicide case, which includes charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and armed home invasion, also remains open with no trial scheduled, according to court records.
Bradenton police spokesperson Meredith Censullo said detectives continue to work to identify the two remaining participants in the robbery, and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the remaining suspects can contact Detective Jay Gow at jay.gow@bradentonpd.com or submit tips anonymously to ManateeCrimestoppers.com.
