November 3, 2016
On May 1, 2016 at 2:22 a.m. Levy County Deputies responded
to 19690 SE 75th Place in Morriston, Fl upon receiving a 911 call of
a shooting. When deputies arrived they found a Hispanic female with two small
children and a Hispanic male at the home. The male had been shot and the female
suffered blunt force injuries to the head. Initial investigations conducted by
Patrol Units revealed unknown masked men burst into the home and made demands
for valuables.
LCSO Investigators, Crime Scene Investigators and the Levy
County Department of Public Safety were dispatched to the scene. The Hispanic
male, identified as Francisco DeJesus (31 years old), was suffering from
multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local trauma unit and
succumbed to these injuries days later. The female, identified as DeJesus’
fiancé, was also transported too. Her injuries were treated and she was
released.
LCSO Investigators quickly learned the suspects had intentionally
targeted this home. DeJesus had prior contacts with at least one of the
suspects and his fiancé was able to provide investigators with a description
and a nick-name. DeJesus’ fiancé cooperated with LCSO investigators providing
information which progressed into the identification of the primary suspect. The LCSO Crime Scene Investigations Unit also
recovered biological evidence from the scene. Analysis of the evidence further
aided in the positive identification of the shooter. Investigators had determined
the suspects were not from this area, fled and had no other known ties to Levy
County. Investigators focused their investigation toward neighboring Polk
County where the suspects were believed to have fled.
Investigators questioned the fiancé the night of the
incident. She told investigators the suspects got agitated when they could not
find what they were looking for and became more violent. She stated she was struck
over the head with a gun and the suspects pointed guns at their children. She
told investigators Francisco attacked one of the masked men when he threated to
shoot her and the children. This is when he was shot. She and investigators
firmly believe Francisco’s death was the result of protecting her and their
children, ages 1 and 3.
The LCSO has intentionally held the release of this
information until now. Investigators were able to obtain a warrant for Murder
and Home Invasion Robbery on May 24, 2016 and began actively seeking the
shooter. The shooter, identified as Johnny Turner (4-17-94) was known to
frequent the Lakeland area. Turner had no permanent address and was known to
stay with multiple friends. Turner’s family is from Haiti and it is known he
pledged allegiance to a Haitian gang. Investigators also learned Turner had other
familial ties in New Jersey.
LCSO investigators were told Turner was monitoring local
news stations for reports of this incident and feared he would flee the country
if he became aware Law Enforcement was looking for him. Investigators worked
closely with the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and developed
information that Turner was with family in Newark, New Jersey. LCSO Investigators
went to Newark and met with USMS Task Force members on October 27, 2016 and
were able to apprehend Turner without incident.
Turner will be extradited from New Jersey and transported to
the Levy County Detention Facility. He will be held without bond until his
first appearance in a Levy County court.
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