State Attorney John F. Durrett announces that on March 27, 2024, following a jury trial, defendant Darrius Romeo Tucker was found guilty as charged of the Murder in the Second Degree committed upon victim Javon Shaw.
Testimony at trial established that the defendant and the victim were close friends for several years before the shooting. The defendant, through counsel, raised a self-defense claim which the jury rejected after deliberating for approximately an hour and a half. The jury further found that the defendant did discharge a firearm causing the victim’s death, which will subject the defendant to enhanced sentencing pursuant to Florida’s 10-20-life law.
The Court ordered the Florida Department of Corrections to conduct a pre-sentence investigation and to prepare a report with their findings and sentencing recommendation. The Defendant faces a mandatory minimum 25 year prison sentence with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The sentencing hearing is currently set for May 13th, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Lake City Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the District 4 Medical Examiner’s Office, and State Attorney’s Office Investigators.
The State of Florida was represented at trial by Assistant State Attorney Chase E. Larsen and Assistant State Attorney Sean Crisafulli.
