The Marion County Sheriff’s Office just announced that it has arrested two juveniles, one of whom was just twelve years old, in connection with a triple homicide in the rural county. One suspect, also a juvenile, has not yet been caught.
WESH 2, reporting on the teens involved, said: “Seventeen-year-old Robert Robinson and a 12-year-old boy (who WESH will not name due to his age) were arrested in connection to the crime and will be charged with first-degree murder, according to Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. A third suspect, 16-year-old Tahj Brewton, is at large.”
Speaking about those arrests during a press conference, the Marion County Sheriff, Billy Woods, said, “There are individuals out there viewing…who want to blame the one thing that has no ability or the capacity to commit the crime itself, and that’s the gun. These individuals committed the crime.”
Woods said that the two juveniles who were arrested and the one who is still on the lam “fled the scene but left a lot of evidence in their wake.”
Continuing, he added that all the suspects involved were affiliated with gangs, saying, “each and every one of them in some shape way or form was associated with a gang. There is no honor among thieves, and at some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them.”
Sheriff Woods went on to say that he had to “stare into the eyes” of the suspects’ mothers, who were “willing to give their sons everything,” on Thursday evening. The two arrested suspects were, according to the police, surprised when the cops showed up to take them into custody.
Fox News Digital, providing details on those murdered, said, “The three deceased teenage friends — a 17-year-old male and two 16-year-old females identified as Layla Silvernail and Camille Quarles — were shot and left for dead in the rural county north of Orlando sometime between March 30 and April 1.”
A GoFundMe Fundraiser was created for Layla Silvernail. It says:
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, Layla Danielle Silvernail was found shot and left on the side of the road. She was transported to a local hospital where she remained in critical condition. Layla is showing no brain activity and her family has decided to donate her organs so she can help others in the wake of this tragedy.
Layla is sixteen years old and has been playing softball all her life in Recreation and Travelball. She is the definition of a team player and an amazing athlete. She loved the game of softball, was a great pitcher and could play any position her team needed. She uplifted all of her teammates! She has been taken from us too soon and will be greatly missed.
We are asking for help to fund funeral and memorial expenses for Layla’s Nana who has played a huge role in her life.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office posted about the remaining suspect in the investigation on Facebook, saying:
UP TO A $10,000 REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF TAHJ BREWTON
In partnership with the United States Marshal’s Service and the Florida Sheriff’s Association, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of Tahj Brewton. The United States Marshal has offered up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Brewton. In addition, the Florida Sheriff’s Association Criminal Apprehension Assistance Program has also offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Brewton is wanted in connection with the homicides that took the lives of three juveniles in Marion County on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in the area of Forest Lakes Park. MCSO Major Crimes Detectives developed three suspects in the homicides, Robert Le’Andrew Robinson, Christopher De’l Atkins, and Tahj Brewton. Robinson and Atkins have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Brewton is still at large. This is where we need your help.
In addition to being wanted in connection with these homicides, Brewton has active juvenile custody orders (which are what arrest warrants are called in the juvenile justice system) for several felony offenses, including carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer, and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. These are other crimes committed by Brewton and are not connected to the Forest Lakes Park homicide. Brewton should be considered armed and dangerous.
If you have information, please call (352) 732-9111, or if you wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352)368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-22 in your tip
Posting about the triple homicide and arrest of the two suspects, the sheriff’s office said:
JUVENILES CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, at approximately 10:52 pm, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to the area of Forest Lakes Park on SE 183rd Avenue Road in response to an injured female laying on the side of the road suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim, later identified as Layla Silvernail (DOB: 10/31/2006), was transported to a hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. The following morning, March 31, 2023, at approximately 7:55 am, deputies responded to SE 94th Street and SE 188th Court in response to a report of another person lying on the side of the road. When deputies responded, they discovered a male juvenile deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. On Saturday, April 1, 2023, at approximately 12:28 pm, following up on a tip, deputies located Layla Silvernail’s vehicle abandoned and partially submerged in a small pond near Ocklawaha, Florida. The vehicle was approximately 9 miles away from the location where Layla Silvernail was located. When detectives searched the vehicle, they located a female juvenile victim deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
Through various investigative techniques and numerous tips from citizens, detectives were able to develop three suspects in this case. Robert Le’Andrew Robinson (DOB: 12/31/2005), Christopher De’l Atkins (DOB: 6/21/2010) and Tahj Brewton (DOB: 6/15/2006). Robinson and Atkins have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder while Brewton is still at large.
Sheriff Woods stated, “This investigation has been a success because of several factors. Our law enforcement partners with the FBI, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, State Attorney Bill Gladson’s Office, FDLE, the Ocala Police Department, my deputies, detectives, and forensics professionals, and finally, our citizens who provided numerous tips all along the way.”
Featured image credit: Marion County Sheriff’s Office
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