JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One of the five teenage boys accused of fatally shooting a Chinese food deliveryman in February made his first appearance before a judge on Wednesday.
Police arrested the five teens on Monday, charging them with murder in 64-year-old Jose Lau's shooting death.
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Authorities said Lau parked on Hugh Court with his food as he looked for the house he was supposed to deliver to. They said the five suspects flagged him down and that's when one of them shot him in the head.
The Chinese immigrant died six days later.
"It was unnerving that it was in my neighborhood," said resident Jennifer Burnette. "It was crazy. There were cops everywhere. All the neighbors were outside. It was scary."
She said she remembers Feb. 18 as the day police tape was wrapped around her yard. Burnette said fear ran through her body when she saw Lau dead in a driveway across the street from her Westside home.
Police said the teens, who range in age from 13 to 16, are all being charged as adults.
Xavior Watson, 16, Dante Brown, 15, Felecian Brown, 15, Dareon Snooks, 14, and Damien Davis, 13, were indicted on murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges.
"They're the age group of my children. My kids are 12 and 16. They're in the same age group. They could be in school with my children," Burnette said.
The youngest of the five teens, Damien Davis, was in court Wednesday morning. He's the one who prosecutors believe pulled the trigger.
"There was only one who carried and discharged the firearm," said State Attorney John Gihon.
Davis' father was in the courtrooms to vouch for his son. He told the judge his son was set up.
However, prosecutors said they believe Davis is guilty and if convicted, he will get a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Gihon said he hopes to send a message to young offenders.
"Most of them are learning that we will find them, we will arrest them and we will treat you as adults, and we will prosecute you very strongly," Gihon said.
He also said young offenders often feel they're untouchable. He said Lau was killed because the five suspects were hungry and wanted some money, but that in the end, they didn't steal anything from the victim.
"I couldn't tell what was going through their heads after the gunshot went off. But, we have a dead man," Gihon said. "It may be the mentality that they have no respect for authority, which would include police, the court system, their parents and teachers."
Previous Stories:
- January 10, 2007: 5 Teens Charged With Killing Deliveryman