Grand Jury Indicts Two in Palm Bay Christmas Day Murders

Justice Moves Forward: Charges Laid in Teenagers' Deaths

Jan 25, 2024

In the Christmas Day double homicide case that rocked Palm Bay last year, a grand jury has indicted two suspects, Jamarcus Simpson, and 17 year old Juan Cortez Shuren Jr.. The Palm Bay Police Department announced on Wednesday that the individuals are facing charges for the deaths of two teenagers, 14-year-old Jeremiah Brown and 16-year-old Travon Anthony, who were found shot and killed at a local compound.

The arrest affidavit of one of the suspects, Jamarcus Simpson, provides a detailed timeline of the events leading up to the tragic incident. On December 25, 2022, Simpson was driving a Ford Fusion when he picked up Travon Anthony from his apartment complex in Melbourne. Surveillance footage from the complex showed another person, later identified as the Juan Cortez Shuren Jr., sitting in the front passenger seat.

According to the affidavit, Simpson and the “Indicted Unnamed Juvenile” then traveled to the area of Tip-Top Mini Market in Melbourne, where they picked up Jeremiah Brown. The four then traveled to the compound, an uninhabited area in the southwest section of Palm Bay.

At the compound, an argument broke out between the “Indicted Unnamed Juvenile” and the victims. Simpson claimed that he remained in the car during the argument and heard approximately three gunshots. After hearing the gunshots, Simpson drove away, with the Juan Cortez Shuren Jr. leaving the victims at the compound.

The affidavit also revealed that Simpson was seen driving away from the compound at approximately 1604 hours, indicating that the homicides likely occurred between 1527 hours, when Simpson's phone was in the area of the compound, and 1604 hours.

The victims were found later that day by a local resident setting up traps for wild hogs. The resident noticed a trail of blood leading to the bodies of the victims, who had suffered gunshot wounds. The investigation is ongoing.