WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – An 18-year-old Winter Haven man has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old that occurred on Monday at the Abbey Lane Apartments.
Devonta Tremaine Washington, Jr. was arrested on Tuesday and charged with Second Degree Murder. He admitted to investigators that he played a role in arranging a robbery attempt of the victim, who was found shot and left in the grass at the apartment complex.
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On Monday, at approximately 1 p.m., Washington and another male were at the apartments when the victim arrived in a Kia Soul driven by an 18-year-old male. Washington and the other male (who was ultimately shot and killed) entered the vehicle, reportedly to purchase a cell phone from the driver.
A physical altercation broke out, and the deceased began striking the driver with the butt of a gun. The driver exited the vehicle, entered the back seat, and then fired a weapon, striking the other male. The driver then pushed the gunshot victim out of the vehicle and fled the scene. Washington fled on foot through the apartment complex and a nearby neighborhood.
Detectives identified Washington as one of the males who had come from inside the apartment and contacted him by phone to arrange an interview at the police department. During the interview, Washington recounted the incident, admitting that he had arranged the supposed cell phone sale.
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He also told investigators that the deceased had informed him that he was “probably” going to rob the driver and wanted Washington to accompany him in case anything happened. Based on this statement, investigators believe Washington was aware that an armed robbery involving two firearms was planned.
Based on interviews with a witness who was in the vehicle, the robbery victim (the driver), and Washington himself, Washington was charged with one count of Second Degree Murder, one count of Robbery with a Firearm, one count of Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication, and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence.
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