A 15-year-old boy is facing adult charges of second-degree murder following the deadly shooting of a teenager riding a bicycle in a neighborhood near Pine Hills last September.
According to court filings from State Attorney Monique H. Worrell, Tommy Lagree Jr. has been charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor. He is currently being held in the Orange County Jail.
The investigation began the evening of Sept. 26. Around 6 p.m., Orange County deputies responded to a call at Keith Place, where they discovered 17-year-old Jahriel Benjamin Huertas lying in the road, collapsed on top of his bicycle. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
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Witnesses at the scene told investigators they saw several males fleeing the area, describing one suspect in a white tank top and black shorts. A Sheriff’s Office helicopter soon located an individual matching that description at a residence on Kathy Jo Terrace. While deputies detained several people at that location, they recovered a Taurus 9mm handgun inside a backpack found in the home.
Shortly after the initial response, Lagree arrived at the scene accompanied by an attorney and surrendered to authorities, reportedly admitting he had shot someone.
During the investigation, detectives interviewed two witnesses who had been in a van with Lagree just prior to the shooting. Both individuals alleged that Lagree had displayed a handgun to them minutes before the incident occurred.
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Investigators also recovered DVR footage from Lagree’s home on Ashland Boulevard. The video allegedly shows Lagree and another male running into the house shortly after the shooting occurred. The footage reportedly captures the pair changing their clothes and cutting Lagree’s distinctive hairstyle in an apparent attempt to alter his appearance.
Forensic analysis later confirmed that the Taurus 9mm recovered by deputies matched the shell casings found at the crime scene.
On Oct. 7, deputies detained a second man who allegedly admitted to helping Lagree flee, discarding the clothing, and hiding the firearm before passing it off to a third party.
Lagree was formally charged as an adult on Nov. 24.
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