A jury in Florida returned a guilty verdict this week against Latravius Jacobs following a three-day trial centered on a fatal 2023 carjacking and crash. Jacobs was convicted as charged of First-Degree Murder, Vehicular Homicide, Carjacking, and Burglary of a Conveyance.
The incident began on December 14, 2023, in the parking lot of a Daytona Beach motel. Evidence presented at trial showed that Jacobs stole a vehicle from a man at gunpoint. Approximately three minutes after the initial theft, Jacobs reached speeds of 91 mph while traveling through the city.
While fleeing the scene of the carjacking, Jacobs ran a red light at the intersection of Mason and Ridgewood Avenue. His vehicle struck another car with enough force to launch it into the air, causing it to flip several times.
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The driver of the second vehicle sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.
The Daytona Beach Police Department conducted the investigation into the sequence of events. During the trial, Assistant State Attorneys Ashley McCarthy and Paiton Mizelle represented the State of Florida, presenting the timeline of the theft and the subsequent high-speed collision to the jury.
The Honorable Kathryn Weston presided over the legal proceedings. Following the jury’s decision, the court scheduled a sentencing hearing for February 9, 2026.
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