A jury in Putnam County has delivered a guilty verdict in the case of a murder committed in 2023 by a man who was 17 years old at the time. The conviction for second-degree murder was announced on Wednesday following a two-day trial.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, the crime took place at a residence in Palatka on April 7, 2023. Reports from earlier in the year indicated that the incident occurred in the 700 block of North 16th Street. The accused, who had been invited by his girlfriend, encountered another young man prepared for a confrontation upon entering the home. During the altercation, the accused drew a firearm and fatally shot the individual in the torso before fleeing the scene. The victim, Jermarien Edwards, succumbed to his injuries and died at the location.
Witnesses present at the scene identified the perpetrator, who was apprehended 20 days later by U.S. Marshals in New Jersey. The State Attorney’s Office highlighted the case as indicative of the increasing prevalence of gun violence among young individuals, emphasizing the need for initiatives like Operation Young Guns. This program, launched in 2022, focuses on addressing the rising tide of violent gun crimes committed by teenagers and young adults.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza remarked on the case, noting the disregard for life demonstrated by such offenders. Operation Young Guns aims not only to foster cooperation among law enforcement but also to actively combat and remove violent criminals from the streets within the 7th Circuit.
The convicted individual is set to receive sentencing on June 10, 2025, facing the possibility of a life sentence.
