STARTS NOW AND FIRST AT FOUR. IT’S AN ARREST. THE COMMUNITY OF PALM BAY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR A SUSPECT IN THE MURDER OF TWO TEENS. LAST CHRISTMAS IN THE COMPOUND HAS NOW BEEN CHARGED WESH TWO. BREVARD COUNTY BUREAU CHIEF SCOTT HEIDLER LIVE FOR US AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS WITH MORE ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE ARREST. SCOTT. WELL, PALM BAY POLICE CHIEF MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT THIS MORNING ON A FACEBOOK PAGE. NOW, THIS IS JUST A FEW DAYS SHY SINCE A YEAR AGO THEY FOUND THE BODIES OF TWO TEENS SHOT TO DEATH. DEMARCUS SIMPSON IS A COLD BLOODED KILLER WHO LEFT OUR TWO VICTIMS TO DIE ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. DEMARCUS SIMPSON IS NOW FACING TWO COUNTS OF PREMEDITATED FIRST DEGREE MURDER, A 14 YEAR-OLD JEREMIAH BROWN AND 16 YEAR-OLD TRAYVON ANTHONY IN A REMOTE AREA KNOWN AS THE COMPOUND ON CHRISTMAS 2022. WHILE THE MOTIVES CONTINUE TO BE INVESTIGATED AND WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT OUR TWO TEENAGE VICTIMS WERE BRUTALLY EXECUTED AND LEFT. IN AN OPEN FIELD ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT, WHICH ALSO HAPPENED TO BE TRAYVON’S 16TH BIRTHDAY. 18 YEAR OLD SIMPSON, ARRESTED FOR THE MURDERS WHILE INSIDE THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY JAIL, WHERE HE’S BEING HELD ON UNRELATED CHARGES. NO WORD YET ON WHEN HE’LL BE SENT TO BREVARD COUNTY. THE ARREST WELCOME NEWS FROM THE COMMUNITY, MISS BROWN, AND THOSE FAMILIES WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THEIR KIDS. MISTER SIMPSON WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS DAY, BUT IT WON’T BE SURROUNDED BY HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY. HE’LL BE IN A SIX BY NINE PALM BAY PD SAYING THAT THEY WORKED WITH LOCAL, FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE CASE AGAINST HIM. THE CHIEF PROMISED MORE ARRESTS IN THE TEENS. MURDERS WILL BE COMING AND TO THE OTHERS INVOLVED IN THESE MURDERS. WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE, ARE AND REST ASSURED, WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL YOU ARE BEHIND BARS. YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN, BUT WE HAVEN’T. AND FOR THAT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO THE COMMUNITY. ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE POLI
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Palm Bay police: Man arrested after 2 teen boys shot, killed on Christmas Day
The Palm Bay Police Department has arrested a suspected killer after two teen boys were found shot to death in a remote area last Christmas. In a Facebook video post Friday, Palm Bay police Chief Mario Augello made the announcement of the arrest just a few days shy of one year since the bodies of two teenagers were found shot to death. “Jamarcus Simpson is a cold-blooded killer who left our two victims alone in the middle of nowhere to die alone,” Augello said.Simpson, 18, is now facing two counts of premeditated first-degree murder of 14-year-old Jeremiah Brown and 16-year-old Travon Anthony in a remote area known as The Compound on Christmas 2022.Related: Family members of 2 Palm Bay teenagers shot, killed on Christmas Day seek justiceAround 8:30 p.m., police say they located the bodies of a 14-year-old Brown and a 16-year-old Anthony.Augello said the motive is still being investigated. “While the motive continues to be investigated, what is clear is that our two teenage victims were brutally executed and left in an open field on Christmas Night, which also happened to be Travon's 16th birthday,” Augello said.The hunt for the suspects in the murders of the two local teens has been a focus for many in Palm Bay, and this arrest comes as very good news.“Ms. Brown and those families will never have another Christmas Day with their kids. Mr. Simpson will have another Christmas Day, but it won’t be surrounded by his friends and family. It’ll be in a six by nine,” said Palm Bay community leader Thomas Gaume."Their families will never be able to spend another holiday, celebrate a birthday, or hear the laughter of their children again due to the senseless and evil actions of this individual," Augello said. Simpson was arrested for the murders while inside the St. Johns County Jail, where he is being held on unrelated charges.There's been no word yet on when he will be sent to Brevard County. Palm Bay police said that they worked with local, federal and state law enforcement agencies in the case against him.Related: WESH 2 Investigates: Palm Bay residents demand action amid concerns about crimes at The CompoundAugello promised more arrests in the teens’ murders will be coming.Augello said detectives left no stone unturned during this investigation.“To the others involved in these murders, we know who you are, and rest assured, we will not stop until you are behind bars. You may have forgotten, but we haven’t," Augello said. Police are asking anyone with information about this case to call the Palm Bay Police Department at 321-952-3463, or if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477). BELOW: Watch the full video from Palm Bay police Chief Mario AugelloTop headlines: 19-year-old arrested after allegedly stabbing Circle K store clerk to death in Altamonte Springs 12-foot gator caught near mall in Florida Palm Bay police: Man arrested after 2 teen boys shot, killed on Christmas Day
PALM BAY, Fla. —
The Palm Bay Police Department has arrested a suspected killer after two teen boys were found shot to death in a remote area last Christmas.
In a Facebook video post Friday, Palm Bay police Chief Mario Augello made the announcement of the arrest just a few days shy of one year since the bodies of two teenagers were found shot to death.
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“Jamarcus Simpson is a cold-blooded killer who left our two victims alone in the middle of nowhere to die alone,” Augello said.
Simpson, 18, is now facing two counts of premeditated first-degree murder of 14-year-old Jeremiah Brown and 16-year-old Travon Anthony in a remote area known as The Compound on Christmas 2022.
Related: Family members of 2 Palm Bay teenagers shot, killed on Christmas Day seek justice
Around 8:30 p.m., police say they located the bodies of a 14-year-old Brown and a 16-year-old Anthony.
Augello said the motive is still being investigated.
“While the motive continues to be investigated, what is clear is that our two teenage victims were brutally executed and left in an open field on Christmas Night, which also happened to be Travon's 16th birthday,” Augello said.
The hunt for the suspects in the murders of the two local teens has been a focus for many in Palm Bay, and this arrest comes as very good news.
“Ms. Brown and those families will never have another Christmas Day with their kids. Mr. Simpson will have another Christmas Day, but it won’t be surrounded by his friends and family. It’ll be in a six by nine,” said Palm Bay community leader Thomas Gaume.
"Their families will never be able to spend another holiday, celebrate a birthday, or hear the laughter of their children again due to the senseless and evil actions of this individual," Augello said.
Simpson was arrested for the murders while inside the St. Johns County Jail, where he is being held on unrelated charges.
There's been no word yet on when he will be sent to Brevard County.
Palm Bay police said that they worked with local, federal and state law enforcement agencies in the case against him.
Related: WESH 2 Investigates: Palm Bay residents demand action amid concerns about crimes at The Compound
Augello promised more arrests in the teens’ murders will be coming.
Augello said detectives left no stone unturned during this investigation.
“To the others involved in these murders, we know who you are, and rest assured, we will not stop until you are behind bars. You may have forgotten, but we haven’t," Augello said.
Police are asking anyone with information about this case to call the Palm Bay Police Department at 321-952-3463, or if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).
BELOW: Watch the full video from Palm Bay police Chief Mario Augello
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- Palm Bay police: Man arrested after 2 teen boys shot, killed on Christmas Day
