PALM BAY, Fla. – Given the choice between facing 20 years in prison or life, Jamarcus Simpson walked into a courtroom Friday and told the judge, he’d rather go to trial than accept the state’s plea bargain for a deadly 2022 shooting in Palm Bay.
The 18-year-old blamed the 17-year-old co-defendant in the Christmas 2022 tragedy, Juan Shuren, for shooting Travon Anthony and Jeremiah Brown.
The Anthony and Brown families watched as Judge Steve Henderson said Simpson’s trial starts Monday.
“Take it to trial,” Simpson told the judge.
“Alright, so we’re slated for jury selection on Monday,” Henderson responded.
Defense attorney Chris Beres told News 6 reporter James Sparvero why Simpson turned down the plea offer.
“Reason he rejected it is because he did not kill those two teens at the Compound,” Beres said.
Simpson’s attorney then said testimony expected at trial would include a witness who said Simpson’s co-defendant killed the victims.
“She overheard Juan Shuren tell a group of his friends that he killed both Travon and Jeremiah,” Beres said.
Like Simpson, Shuren has also pleaded not guilty.
The city of Palm Bay said it will pick up its discussion on developing the Compound to discourage crime at a council meeting next month.
A statement attributed to the city manager’s office reads, “The consultant is finalizing a study of the existing conditions of the Compound, which will also include recommendations for facilitating development of areas of the Compound, which would deter undesirable activity. The study is expected to be presented to city council in April.”
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