Months after 18-year-old Juan “Junie” Gomez Jr. was found shot to death in his car at Berry Park on Dec. 14, two 17-year-olds have now been formally charged in the killing. The case rattled Leesburg’s Carver Heights neighborhood, and authorities say both teens are locked up without bond as prosecutors press ahead.
Who Was Charged And What They Face
According to charging documents, the Lake County state attorney’s office has charged D’yuntre Jeraun Wright with second-degree murder. James A. Fenderson IV is charged with principal to third-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a delinquent. Both teens remain jailed without bond while the case moves through the courts, as reported by ClickOrlando.
How Investigators Tied Suspects To The Scene
Detectives say surveillance video and phone records put the teens at the heart of the investigation. Court filings allege one of them was captured on video sprinting away from Gomez’s vehicle with a backpack that matched the victim’s. Investigators also wrote that a police dog followed a scent trail from the scene to a nearby home, and that officers had previously noted a court-ordered ankle monitor during earlier contacts, according to WFTV.
Affidavit Details: An Alleged Gun Sale
A probable-cause affidavit reviewed by local reporters lays out what investigators say led up to the shooting. Gomez and one suspect allegedly arranged a meet-up at Berry Park for what investigators describe as an attempted purchase of a .45-caliber handgun, with Gomez offering $175 in cash and two marijuana edibles as payment. The affidavit and accompanying lab notes state that a .45-caliber projectile and spent casing recovered from the car were consistent with Springfield- and Glock-style firearms. Investigators also say a court-ordered ankle monitor was later recovered abandoned in a field near South 14th Street, as outlined by the Leesburg Daily Commercial.
Charges And Next Steps
Prosecutors filed the charges Monday through the Lake County state attorney’s office. Officials have not yet set court dates or announced whether the teens will be prosecuted as juveniles or adults. The state now has the affidavit and supporting evidence ready for upcoming arraignments and preliminary hearings as the investigation continues, according to ClickOrlando.
Family Reaction And How To Help
Gomez’s mother, Valerie Long, called it “a heavy day” after learning of the arrests, the Leesburg Daily Commercial reported. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Leesburg Police Department or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS, as reported by WFTV.
