A man who shot and killed a 19-year-old Bahama Village resident has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, attempted robbery with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Judge Mark Wilson sentenced Angel Font, 23, to prison after a negotiated plea agreement with the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office in the fatal shooting of Jossue Emmanuel Gomez on June 22, 2021, in Key West. The shooting occurred during an attempted robbery.
Font also pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a two-way communication device, according to the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office.
Two men reportedly involved in the fatal shooting had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted robbery with a firearm. Daino Gaines and Cortez Leatherwood had agreed to testify against Font if the case went to trial. Gaines, 20, and Leatherwood, 22, will be sentenced following Font’s adjudication.
Police officers responded to a scene of the crime where Gomez was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound, according to Monroe County State Attorney’s Office spokesman Steve Torrence. An investigation revealed that Font and his accomplices had planned to rob Gomez of marijuana, using a firearm unlawfully possessed by Font. The plan escalated to violence, culminating in Gomez’s death, Torrence said.
“This tragedy began over a simple yet fatal decision: a group of young men ran out of marijuana, had no money to purchase more, and resorted to violence over a mere four ounces of it,” State Attorney Dennis Ward said. “They reached out to an acquaintance, a decision that spiraled into an altercation resulting in the senseless loss of Jossue Emmanuel Gomez’s life. This case illustrates the devastating impact of small-scale drug-related disputes escalating into irreversible violence, leaving multiple families forever changed.”
“The death of Mr. Gomez is a stark reminder of how quickly situations can escalate to tragic outcomes,” lead prosecutor Charlie Britt added. “This was a senseless act of violence that has not only taken a young man’s life but has also impacted the lives of everyone involved, from the families of the victim and the defendants to the community at large. I would like to express my gratitude to the Key West Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and all the other agencies that collaborated on this case. Their diligent work and cooperation were crucial in bringing about a resolution to this complex case.”
The plea deal was reached after extensive negotiations, taking into account the severity of the crime and Font’s voluntary admission of guilt, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
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