Boy killed in shootingBoy killed in shooting
Breon Allen, 7, was shot to death in a drive-by shooting lon Jan. 24, 2025. | MAD DADS

Alleged gunmen arrested in slaying of 7-year-old boy

Published on March 28, 2025 at 2:57 pm
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The last of six suspects sought in the slaying of 7-year-old Breon Allen Jr. in January have been arrested, Sheriff T.K. Waters says.

The two 17-year-olds, identified as Donte McGhee and Tavaris Kelly, were arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, police said.

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Waters said the shooting was a planned attack in connection with escalating violence between two rival street groups.

During a news conference Friday, the sheriff confirmed that the latest suspects were the ones who fired the guns that killed Breon and injured his uncle, Lafayette Mango, 21, outside a home on Commonwealth Avenue.

“Breon was walking outside with someone that is involved in this lifestyle, right. And I am not speaking — I just know that he is,” Waters said. “And he was the intended target, and one, it should have never happened, even for the intended target to be hit. But for them to do that in such a callous, cold, senseless manner, tells you what kind of people they are.”

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“I don’t care that they are 17 years old — it does not matter to me,” Waters added. “They don’t care about people in this community, so lets put them where they belong.”  

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters speaks during a news conference Friday, March 28, 2025. | News4Jax

Four other young men — Keith Johnson, Dannel Larkins, Zharod Sykes and Keith Fields — were charged with second-degree murder. The four, all 18 to 24 years old, were part of a group of men who jumped out of a car Jan. 24 and started shooting at Breon and his uncle, police said.

During an earlier announcement of those arrests, Waters identified the four as documented gang members or associates.

Mango, Breon’s uncle, survived the shooting.

The sheriff said his department will investigate whether any of the six suspects in Breon’s case were involved in other cases. He had advice for those involved in gangs: “Get out quick.”

“There’s a way out. Find something else to do with your time,” Waters said. “You can do something other than commit acts of violence like this in our community. And if you don’t get out, then we are going to come and get you.”


author image Reporter email Dan Scanlan is a veteran journalist with almost 40 years of experience in radio, television and print reporting. He has worked at various stations in the Northeast and Jacksonville. Dan also spent 34 years at The Florida Times-Union as a police and current affairs reporter.

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