Jerome Llyod Anderson will spend the rest of his life in prison, three times over. On Monday, the Daytona Beach man was sentenced to three consecutive life terms after entering no contest pleas to three counts of first‑degree murder stemming from a July 12, 2023, shooting that left his roommate and two other men dead. Prosecutors said the case leaned heavily on eyewitness accounts and video that appeared to show Anderson chasing at least one victim into the roadway and firing again while the man was on the ground. Anderson chose to accept the court's punishment rather than take his chances at trial.
Prosecutors Cite Surveillance, Admissions
According to a press release from The State Attorney's Office, the violence started inside a Park Drive home on the morning of July 12, 2023, when Anderson shot his roommate. Prosecutors say he then walked into the street and shot two more men, all three victims later dying from their injuries. Anderson admitted to the shootings in an interview with detectives, the State Attorney's Office said.
The same release notes that video surveillance captured Anderson pursuing one of the victims in the roadway and firing at him while he was on the ground. State Attorney R. J. Larizza called Anderson “a dangerous and violent offender,” adding that removing him from the community was necessary for public safety.
Witnesses, Calls and Local Coverage
Local reporting by ClickOrlando adds that a witness told detectives Anderson had argued with the victims the night before at a convenience store and threatened to kill them. That outlet also reported that Anderson later called 911 and claimed he was defending himself.
The State Attorney's summary says all three victims were shot multiple times, a detail that tracks with the local witness account of a heated confrontation that did not end when the men parted ways the night before.
Court Action and Sentence Details
At Monday's hearing, Anderson entered no contest pleas to three counts of first‑degree murder. He was then sentenced to three consecutive life terms under case number 2023 303298 CFDB, according to the State Attorney's Office. Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak prosecuted the case for the state, and the Honorable Kathryn Weston handed down the sentence in Volusia County.
The State Attorney's release also includes contact information for its public information officer for anyone seeking additional procedural details or records from the case.
Legal Note on No‑Contest Pleas
A no‑contest plea (nolo contendere) means a defendant does not admit guilt but accepts conviction and punishment as if pleading guilty. In Florida, such pleas can result in adjudication and sentencing similar to a straight guilty plea, though the way they are treated in related civil matters can differ. For a plain‑English explanation of how nolo contendere works under state law, see guidance from the Florida Attorney General's office: MyFloridaLegal.
The Daytona Beach Police Department investigated the killings, and prosecutors say the life sentences permanently remove a violent offender from the community in a case that has been moving through the courts since the summer of 2023. A full case summary and legal details are available from The State Attorney's Office, with additional coverage from ClickOrlando.
