Jontae Haywood, a 15-year-old from Sumter County, Florida, was reported missing on December 16, 2022. His body was discovered the following evening near County Road 557 in Bushnell. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office quickly determined that his death was a homicide. Jontae, a former student at Sumter P.R.E.P Academy in Wildwood, was found with a gunshot wound, leading investigators to believe he had been shot shortly after he was reported missing.
The investigation revealed that Jontae's
death was the result of the negligent handling of a firearm. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the incident: 15-year-old Tervaris Eugene Jackson, Jr., 17-year-old Trevon Donte Battle, and 70-year-old Bradford Nethercot. According to the sheriff's office, Nethercot, the only adult present during the incident, failed to prevent the firearm from discharging and subsequently made no attempt to prevent Jontae's death. After the shooting, Jontae's body was moved in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Jackson and Battle were charged with aggravated manslaughter, improper disposal of human remains, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, and failure to report a death to the medical examiner. Nethercot faced charges of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, possession of fewer than 20 grams of marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The arrests were made after detectives obtained warrants for all three individuals, with Jackson and Nethercot being apprehended by Sumter County deputies and Battle being arrested by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
The tragic death of Jontae Haywood has left a community in mourning and has highlighted the dangers of negligent firearm handling. The ongoing investigation aims to bring justice for Jontae and his family, as the legal proceedings against the suspects continue. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office has urged anyone with additional information about the case to come forward to aid in the investigation.
