Deonta Tareeik Bugg, a 22-year-old resident of Davenport, Florida, tragically lost his life on July 15, 2020. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Days Inn motel on U.S. Highway 27, where Bugg was shot in the chest during a drug transaction. According to reports, Bugg had been renting a room at the motel and was involved in selling marijuana. On the day of his death, he arranged a meeting with two individuals through Snapchat to sell them marijuana.
A witness stated that Bugg had a premonition of being robbed during the transaction, which unfortunately turned out to be true. After meeting the suspects in the parking lot, Bugg returned to his room, expressing his concerns to the witness. When he went back to the suspects' vehicle, he was shot by one of the occupants, who then fled the scene.
The investigation quickly identified the suspects as 20-year-old Sedrick Myers and 18-year-old Cory Bowland Jr. The Polk County Sheriff's Office launched a manhunt for the two individuals, who were considered armed and dangerous. The suspects were linked to a white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, which was tracked down by detectives. It was revealed that Bowland had borrowed the truck and picked up Myers before heading to the motel. Myers was identified as the shooter, while Bowland was implicated in the crime as well. Both suspects faced charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and tampering with evidence.
In the days following the murder, both Myers and Bowland turned themselves in to authorities. They were taken into custody and held at the Polk County Jail. The case drew significant attention, with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd highlighting it as an example of the dangers associated with drug-related activities. Sheriff Judd emphasized the risks of living a life involved in drugs and violence, pointing to Bugg's own social media posts that depicted him with drug money and firearms. The tragic death of Deonta Tareeik Bugg underscored the harsh realities of the illegal drug trade and the violent consequences that can arise from it.
