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Second suspect arrested in deadly shooting that killed a 3-year-old child

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LAKELAND, Fla. — A second suspect was arrested after a deadly shooting that killed a 3-year-old at an apartment complex in Lakeland.

On May 6, Demarius Green was arrested after a traffic stop by the Plant City Police Department. He was wanted on charges of tampering with evidence in connection to the homicide.

The Lakeland Police Department was searching for two suspects in connection to the shooting. The other suspect turned himself in on Tuesday, March 19th.

A release said that Kevarius Green, 30, turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office with his attorney. He was wanted on several charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and attempted first-degree murder.

The shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. on March 11 at the Cambridge Cove Apartments in Lakeland.

Police said Green and Kemarius Wilson, Demarius's brother, were in a Dodge Challenger and pulled into the apartment complex.

Detectives said Green was armed with a rifle and fired shots into a Toyota RAV4 where a mother, her boyfriend, and two children were sitting inside.

"The second suspect exited the Challenger and approached the RAV4, and at some point, shots were exchanged between the male that was sitting in the RAV4 in the front passenger seat, starting to return fire while the female who was in the driver's seat of the RAV4, Ms. Baez fled the vehicle with the infant, the 3-month-old," said Police Chief Sam Taylor.

The shooting killed 3-year-old Jaquez Norton, who was in the backseat of the RAV4. A passenger in the RAV4 was also shot and remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said Green also shot his accomplice, Kemarius Wilson, and the two drove off in the Dodge Challenger.

Police said Wilson was in the Challenger before and after the shooting and attempted to hide the Dodge Challenger. Police located the 2014 Challenger on a nearby street at a relative's house. He is wanted for tampering with evidence.

"Demarius Wilson was seen running from the Challenger after it was hidden between the two houses after the shooting as well," said Chief Taylor.

Police said Kemarius Wilson was dropped off at Lakeland Regional Health and later died.

Detectives believe the parties involved were all familiar with each other.

Anyone with information about Wilson's whereabouts is asked to call Lakeland Police at 863-834-6900 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800-226-8477.


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