OCALA, Fla. – A Marion County man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison for the 2023 murder of 19-year-old Tylique Le’John Christie. Luis Alexander Figueroa-Tirado, 21, pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder with a Firearm on Monday, June 2, 2025, just as jury selection was set to begin for his trial.
The plea and sentencing, overseen by Judge Timothy McCourt, bring a significant resolution to the tragic incident that unfolded on June 19, 2023.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to reports of multiple gunshots in the early afternoon of June 19, 2023, at a residence off Northwest 22nd Avenue in Ocala. Upon arrival, investigators found numerous spent shell casings and bullet holes in nearby homes.
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Shortly after, authorities were notified that Tylique Christie had been transported to a local hospital by two individuals with a gunshot wound to his head. Christie later succumbed to his injuries. The two individuals present with Christie provided witness statements to law enforcement.
Detectives investigating the case learned that Christie had arranged to meet with Figueroa-Tirado’s co-defendant, 17-year-old Davinci Cheesman Dawson, for a drug transaction. This meeting escalated into violence when a group of masked gunmen, including Figueroa-Tirado, opened fire on Christie.
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Through forensic evidence collection, a neighborhood canvass, and witness statements, detectives confirmed the involvement of both Figueroa-Tirado and Dawson in Christie’s murder.
On September 18, 2023, a grand jury returned true indictments, charging both defendants with First Degree Murder. Both Figueroa-Tirado and Dawson were subsequently arrested and charged.
Figueroa-Tirado’s co-defendant, Davinci Cheesman Dawson, also pleaded guilty last week and received a sentence of 30 years in prison.
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