Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced May 14 that six individuals have been arrested in a Lakeland shooting that killed two men two days earlier, and some face first-degree murder charges.
During an afternoon news conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the shooting of 19-year-old David Boutwell, of Mulberry was planned by a group as an armed robbery. That was until things took an unexpected fatal turn.
Judd said Boutwell drove in a white Mercedes into the Secret Cove community expecting to conduct a drug transaction there. He said it was arranged with Kristian Xavier Guzman, 23, who had purchased drugs from him before.
Polk deputies found Boutwell had two 1-gallon bags of marijuana in his car after the crash, Judd said. He did not possess any firearms.
Guzman, who lives a little over a mile from where the shooting occurred, drove to the neighborhood north of Skyview Drive and just west of Reynolds road with a car full of people and a plan to steal the marijuana and Boutwell’s money, Judd said.
Judd shared home security-camera footage obtained by Polk detectives showing Lakeland resident Anthony Scott Rousch, 18, walking with a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old past a driveway toward a curve where Pirates Way and Ned Engle Boulevard meet after being dropped off by Guzman.
All three of them are believed to have been armed, Judd said.
Rousch ducked into trees and bushes immediately off the roadway, going out of sight on the video. The 17-year-old and 15-year-old continued toward the intersection.
The 17-year-old approached the white Mercedes driven by Boutwell, while the 15-year-old stayed on the porch of a nearby house, Judd said.
At 1:27 p.m. on the video, the pop of a gunshot can be heard. Judd said said detectives think the 17-year-old, who was carrying a 9-mm handgun, shot Boutwell.
On the security video, the immediate revving of an car’s engine can be heard before the white Mercedes travels past on Pirates Way. Second later, there’s the audible sound of impact as Boutwell loses control of the car and hits 38-year-old Nicholas Jones, killing him. There’s a second sound as Boutwell’s car collides into the residential home.
Judd said that after the shooting, the 17-year-old picked up a shotgun the 15-year-old dropped on a nearby home’s porch, wrapped it in his hoodie and threw it into a dumpster behind a nearby convenience store. It was found by Polk detectives that evening.
Guzman drove through the area to pick up Rousch, the 17-year-old and 15-year-old to head home, Judd said.
Once Guzman learned the 17-year-old shot Boutwell, Judd, he asked him and and his girlfriend, Jessica M. Chambers, 19, of Lakeland, who had been along for the ride, to leave.
Polk detectives later found the 17-year-old with his mother at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. His mother cooperated with deputies conducting the investigation, Judd said.
He was arrested and charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery and tampering with evidence.
His girlfriend, Chambers, faces charges of accessory after the fact to a capital felony, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, providing false information to law enforcement in a felony investigation and four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Rousch was charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and violation of probation.
The 15-year-old boy faces two charges of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a juvenile and violation of probation.
Judd said he plans to ask the State Attorney’s Office to charge the 17-year-old and 15-year-old as adults.
The Ledger asked reached out to State Attorney Brian Haas’ office to confirm, but under our crime guidelines does not identify juveniles until they are charged as adults.
Guzman, who Judd said “masterminded” the whole incident, faces two felony counts of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and violation of probation.
Isabella Brooke Farley, 21, of Lakeland, was in the Guzman’s car as the robbery was planned and taking place, Judd said. Farley faces felony counts of accessory after the fact to a capital felony, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, negligent child abuse, providing false information to law enforcement in a felony investigation and misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Judd said the child abuse charges stem from Chambers and Farley holding two children, ages 1 and 4, in their laps while riding in Guzman’s car during the attempted robbery.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 6 charged in Lakeland shooting that killed 2 men, including bystander
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