A Florida grand jury has indicted two men on first-degree murder and attempted murder charges in connection with a deadly shooting outside a Cocoa restaurant that killed a 15-year-old girl and injured two others last month.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, Jonterich L. Smith, 21, of Cocoa, and Xazavier E. Butler, 20, of Titusville, are accused of opening fire outside Anchors Seafood & Chicken on Clearlake Road on October 6, killing Ka’Ryah Duncan as she sat in a car with friends waiting for food.
Both suspects face one count of first-degree murder with a firearm and two counts of attempted first-degree murder for wounding two 18-year-old men from Palm Bay.
Details of the Attack
Investigators with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said Smith initially went to the restaurant to pick up food but noticed the victims—whom he reportedly knew—in the parking lot. He left briefly in a Dodge Durango before returning around 4:30 p.m., blocking the victims’ car.
Authorities allege that Smith and Butler exited the driver’s side of the black SUV armed with assault rifles, while a third, unidentified suspect stepped out from the passenger side with a handgun. The three men fired dozens of rounds, striking the victims’ vehicle and killing Duncan. The entire attack was captured on security video, according to investigators.
Arrests and Charges
Smith was arrested on October 11 during a traffic stop in Volusia County and is being held in the Brevard County Jail without bond. Butler remains at large as of November 5, and law enforcement continues to search for him.
In addition to the murder and attempted murder counts, the grand jury indicted Smith for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and Butler for possession of a firearm by a delinquent, stemming from prior juvenile convictions.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Butler’s whereabouts to contact the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office or Crimeline immediately.
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