Three individuals have been detained in connection with the August 25 murder of 15-year-old Kayvon Dunbar. The suspects, identified as Zyquan Kit, 17; Jeremiah Lilly, 18; and 15-year-old Star Stewart, face charges of felony murder with a firearm, as reported by the Bradenton Police Department through a recent social media posting.
Police officers were called to a shooting incident shortly before midnight on August 25 to the 400 block of 11th Ave. E. On arriving, Dunbar was found with a fatal gunshot wound. An investigation turned up that Dunbar, along with Kit, Lilly, and Stewart, had orchestrated a plan to rob Kit's drug dealer, luring the individual to the location. Upon the dealer arriving, he became aware of the approaching masked trio—Dunbar, Stewart, and Lilly—two of whom were armed. When the man, acting in self-defense, opened fire, one of the suspects returned shots, leading to Dunbar's death.
In a grim twist, due to Dunbar's involvement in the robbery attempt during which he was shot, Kit, Lilly, and Stewart are being charged with felony murder. This is grounded in the legal principle that if a death occurs during the commission of a felony, those committing the felony can be held responsible for the resulting death, regardless of who discharged the fatal bullet.
The ultimate decision on whether these three will face the full weight of these charges as adults rests with the State Attorney’s Office of the 12th Judicial Circuit. At this juncture, the State Attorney’s Office has not publicly indicated which direction they will take in the legal processing of Kit, Lilly, and Stewart.
