CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – Demitri Hunter Nichols, 20, has been sentenced to 20 years in the Florida Department of Corrections following a plea agreement in a carjacking case that involved gunfire and a high-speed pursuit.
The sentencing, which carries a minimum mandatory term, concludes a case that began in March 2024. Upon his release, Nichols will also serve 10 years of probation.
The charges against Nichols stemmed from an incident that unfolded off Ft. Island Trail. According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were initially dispatched to the area in response to a reported physical disturbance. While en route, Lieutenant Corbin spotted a vehicle matching the description of the victim’s car.
READ: DUI Arrest Made In Double-Fatal Turkey Creek Road Crash: Hillsborough County Sheriff
An attempt to conduct a traffic stop was made, but the driver, later identified as Nichols, accelerated rapidly, initiating a multi-mile pursuit. Law enforcement officers successfully deployed tire deflation devices, ultimately disabling the vehicle.
Nichols, who was 19 years old at the time of the incident, was apprehended and questioned. He reportedly told authorities that an argument with the victim turned physical, leading him to take the victim’s vehicle.
Further investigation revealed a more violent sequence of events. The victim informed deputies that Nichols had become violent and discharged a firearm multiple times outside the passenger window of the moving vehicle. The victim then pulled over and exited the vehicle along with three other witnesses.
READ: Pasco Sheriff’s Office Investigating Death After Human Remains Found In Trilby
According to the victim’s account, the argument with Nichols escalated, resulting in Nichols striking the victim in the face repeatedly.
Deputies noted visible injuries to the victim consistent with this statement.
The victim further alleged that after falling to the ground, Nichols stood over them, pointed the firearm at their head, and then fled in the victim’s vehicle. The statements provided by the three witnesses corroborated the victim’s account of the events.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
