LOCAL

Murder suspect blurts out in court: 'I wasn't the only person there'; TPD makes 2nd arrest

Tallahassee Police Department officials said the shooting happened during a drug deal.

Jeff Burlew
Tallahassee Democrat

The man arrested in connection with the shooting death of another at a Tallahassee apartment complex volunteered information about the crime during his first court appearance, saying he wasn’t alone at the time of the murder.

Jacob Davis, 22, of Dothan, Alabama, offered the information Tuesday — after he’d been advised not to talk about the facts of the case.

“I have a question,” Davis said during the video-conference hearing before Leon County Judge Jason Jones.

“I am not sure you should ask it,” said Assistant Public Defender Nancy Showalter. “What’s the question about?”

“I wasn’t the only person there,” Davis said.

“No, no, no — that’s the kind of question you should absolutely not ask right now,” Showalter said amid gasps from court personnel. “You need to discuss the details of the circumstances of your case with your lawyer, OK?”

“Yes, ma’am, I’m sorry,” Davis said. “I’m not familiar with this.”

► Suspect in fatal Adams Street shooting arrested in Alabama

► 'Nobody wins by killing each other': Two people shot to death in nine-hour span in Tallahassee

Davis was arrested on charges of felony murder and armed robbery in connection with the fatal shooting, which happened Friday night at University Courtyard Apartments on South Adams Street.

The Tallahassee Police Department signaled after the arrest that others could be charged. On Wednesday, TPD announced another suspect, Zatoriyan J. Gould, 20, was apprehended in Alabama.

Zatoriyan J. Gould

Gould was taken into custody by the Enterprise Police Department on the same day Davis was arrested, TPD said in a news release. 

"Through continued efforts, TPD investigators were able to charge (Gould) with felony murder and armed robbery," TPD said. "He is awaiting extradition to Florida from Alabama at this time."

Jacob Davis, 22, is being charged in the shooting death of a man on Friday in the parking lot of University Courtyard Apartments on South Adams Street.

TPD said the shooting happened after a drug deal turned into a robbery attempt. The victim’s body was found in a car in the complex’s parking lot.

Davis fled to his hometown after the shooting, TPD said. Detectives went to Dothan and coordinated with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office to bring him in for questioning. 

He apparently agreed to speak with police despite his right to remain silent. TPD said he was arrested at the conclusion of the interview.

The fatal shooting was one of two that happened within a roughly nine-hour span Friday night and Saturday morning. Early Saturday, a man was shot and killed during a large after-hours parking lot party at the Rattler gas station on West Orange Avenue.

The Public Defender's Office announced it has a conflict in Davis' case, which means an outside lawyer will represent him if he doesn't hire his own attorney.

Davis told Judge Jones during his court appearance that he worked at a Walmart distribution center in Brundidge, Alabama. Jones asked whether he had any money saved up, presumably for a private attorney.

“I actually had just got the job, sir,” he said. “But my mom and my grandparents and my girlfriend and my whole family are trying to get money (together).”

Jones ordered Davis held without bond in the Leon County Detention Center.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

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