Arrest made in Boynton Beach hit-and-run that injured well-known community activist

An 18-year-old Lantana man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a December hit-and-run crash that injured well-known Boynton Beach activist Bernard Wright.

Jamal Lormejuste, of Lantana, was driving a new white Chevrolet Camaro shortly before 6:30 p.m. in the 800 block of North Federal Highway on Dec. 26, 2022, and drove into a bike lane to pass cars in both lanes of the two-lane road, a probable cause affidavit said. Wright was hit as he crossed the road.

Lormejuste faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, according to the affidavit filed in court Thursday.

Wright was among the group of a few dozen who gathered at a vigil in the median on North Federal Highway to mark the year that had passed since Stanley Davis III died after crashing his dirt bike while former Officer Mark Sohn chased him.

Pieces of the Camaro were left in the road and on the sidewalk after the driver fled, and Wright’s shoes were knocked off his feet, the affidavit said. As of Wednesday, Wright has had three surgeries on his arms and legs.

Wright, 70, is a well-known figure in the community who regularly attends commission meetings and has been a vocal supporter of Davis’ family since the teen died, joining them in urging the police department to fire Sohn. In August, Sohn was fired after 20 years on the job.

Wright typically live streams videos of himself at events on his Facebook page, as he was the night of the crash, moments before the Camaro hit him.

Four days after the crash, Boynton Beach Police received an anonymous tip that a white Chevrolet Camaro with damage to its passenger side, including a missing side mirror, was at an apartment complex a few miles from the crash site, the affidavit said. Officers later found it parked between two buildings there.

As officers inspected the car’s damage, Giovaldi Seme, 19, came out of a building it was parked near and asked them what they were doing, the affidavit said. The car was towed after Seme gave officers the keys.

Officers contacted the registered owner of the car, Christian Ravix, 20, who is Seme’s cousin, the affidavit said. Ravix said he bought the car, and his cousin rented it through another friend.

Seme had texted Ravix a video of the car’s damage, the affidavit said.

“I don’t know if I should report that b—-” and said he wasn’t “trying to go troll,” which the affidavit said is a “common street term meaning the police.”

“Come on man, the paint coming off … The s— getting hectic, car posted right by the road … for anybody to see … like I don’t know,” Seme said in the video.

Officers found text messages between Seme and Lormejuste about the crash, according to the affidavit.

“Bro I apologize but when I was driving someone was crossing the road when they wasn’t supposed to and I hit them,” Lormejuste wrote in one message. Seme also received a total of $1,100 in payments through Zelle, the affidavit said.

Officers went to Lormejuste’s house Tuesday, and he admitted to driving the car and hitting someone on Dec. 26, the affidavit said. He said he didn’t stop because he was afraid.

Lormejuste told officers he stopped and took pictures of the damage after fleeing the crash and sent them to Seme. He then left the car at the apartment complex where officers later found it, and friends picked him up, the affidavit said.

Lormejuste’s text messages after the crash also showed he was aware of who he hit, the affidavit said. He told officers he nearly came forward after Wright’s daughter pleaded for anyone who knew about the crash to speak up.

Officer Holly Picciano, a spokesperson for Boynton Beach Police, said in an email Thursday that no one else is currently facing charges, though the investigation is still considered active.

Wright was a candidate for mayor last year but lost to Ty Penserga and was vying for the District 2 commission seat in the March 14 municipal election against incumbent Woodrow Hay, Joe Josemond and Mack McCray. He lost with less than 4% of the vote, the county’s official results show.

Wright did not respond to messages seeking comment about the arrest Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.

Angie DiMichele can be reached at adimichele@sunsentinel.com, 754-971-0194 and on Twitter @angdimi.