Jossue Emmanuel Gomez, a 19-year-old male from Key West, Florida, tragically lost his life on June 22, 2021. The incident occurred in the early morning hours when Gomez was involved in a planned marijuana transaction that turned into a robbery. According to police reports, Gomez had arranged to sell four ounces of marijuana to three individuals: Angel John Font, Daino Lamont Gaines, and Cortez Rees Leatherwood. The transaction was a setup, with the intention of robbing Gomez at gunpoint.
When Gomez arrived at the designated location, he got into a car with Font while the other two suspects hid nearby. Shortly after, a gunshot was heard, and Gomez was found bleeding from a gunshot wound next to his car at the intersection of Amelia and Howe streets in the Bahama Village neighborhood of Key West. He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Gomez's death led to the arrest of the three suspects. Angel John Font, who was 21 years old at the time, was arrested on July 2, 2021, after fleeing the Florida Keys and being found in Merritt Island, Florida. Font had cut his hair in an attempt to alter his appearance. He was charged with first-degree murder and robbery and has been held without bond since his arrest. Daino Lamont Gaines, 18, and Cortez Rees Leatherwood, 20, were arrested shortly after Font. Both were also charged with first-degree murder and robbery and were held without bond.
The legal proceedings for the suspects have seen significant developments. In April 2023, Gaines and Leatherwood pleaded guilty to their charges and agreed to testify against Font in exchange for 12-year prison sentences. Font, who was facing trial, accepted a 30-year plea deal in April 2024. The plea deal was accepted by the court, and Font was sentenced accordingly. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of a robbery gone wrong and brought some closure to the family and friends of Jossue Emmanuel Gomez.
