'We were shocked that not only were the victims juveniles, but the murderers are juveniles as well.'
Two teenagers were arrested and a third is wanted for a triple homicide that happened last week in rural Florida.
Robert Le’Andrew Robinson, 18, and Christopher De’l Atkins, 12, were arrested for the triple homicide of three other teenagers who were found with gunshot wounds last week.
Police are still searching for Tahj Brewton, 16, who they believe was also involved in the crime.
‘We were shocked that not only were the victims juveniles, but the murderers are juveniles as well,’ Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a press conference on Friday.
Sheriff’s deputies discovered 16-year-old Layla Silvernail seriously wounded by a gunshot wound to the head in Ocklawaha, Florida. She was rushed to a local hospital, but died the following morning.
The next day, investigators found the bodies of two more teenagers – a 17-year-old boy was found not far from Silvernail, and another 16-year-old girl was found in the trunk of an abandoned car partially submerged in a small pond.
The third victim was later identified by her family as Camille Quarles, News4Jax reported.
Investigators later confirmed that the car belonged to Silvernail, who was ‘there of her own free will,’ Sheriff Woods said.
‘This group of juveniles were involved in committing burglaries and robberies which they referred to as a “lick,”‘ the sheriff said.
The sheriff confirmed that the suspected killers were affiliated with a gang, but said they do not believe the killings had anything to do with a rivalry.
‘Basically, there is no honor among thieves,’ Woods said. ‘And at some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them. They fled the scenes, but left a lot of evidence in their wake.’
Investigators currently believe all three victims were murdered at the same time. Sheriff Woods confirmed that a witness heard three gunshots, which they believe was the moment all three victims were killed.
Investigators also said the victims and the suspects had only known each other for a short time, and that the suspects got ahold of the gun used for the murder through previous car burglaries.
Woods said that his office was releasing the names and photos of the suspects in order to hold the teenagers accountable, and to ask the community to help them find the third suspect.
‘We do not hold our juveniles accountable. We minimize their actions,’ Woods said. ‘We need to hold them accountable and then hope that we can change them.’
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