Saeed Christopher Wallace, aged 33, was tragically found shot to death on the morning of December 18, 2019, in an industrial area of Lake Worth Beach, Florida. His body was discovered in an alley near the 1100 block of Fifth Avenue South, close to the Florida East Coast Railway tracks. The investigation revealed that Wallace was involved in a marijuana business, which he operated through a rented storage unit.
This business became the focal point of a robbery conspiracy that ultimately led to his death.
Jonathan Major, a 38-year-old man from the Lantana area, was identified as a key suspect in the case. Prosecutors alleged that Major, along with at least one accomplice, conspired to rob Wallace of marijuana and THC cartridges. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Major had knowledge of Wallace's marijuana business and planned the robbery. Surveillance footage showed a driver matching Major's description at the crime scene, although the footage did not clearly show his face. Additionally, Major's car and cell phone were found to be in the vicinity of the homicide scene at the time of the murder.
In March 2021, a grand jury indicted Jonathan Major and Reginald Jackson on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and burglary of a structure while armed. Jackson, identified in court records as the suspected gunman, pleaded not guilty and awaited trial. During Major's trial, his defense attorneys argued that the state did not present conclusive evidence proving Major's presence at the homicide scene. They contended that Major had loaned his car to a friend and mistakenly left his phone in the vehicle. Despite these arguments, the jury found Major guilty of first-degree murder and attempted robbery in August 2022.
Jonathan Major was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of Saeed Christopher Wallace. He also received an additional 15-year sentence for the robbery, with credit for 587 days already served. The sentencing took place during a hearing before Circuit Judge Jeffrey Gillen. The case against Reginald Jackson continued, with his next court hearing scheduled for November.
The tragic death of Saeed Christopher Wallace highlights the dangers associated with illegal drug operations and the lengths to which individuals may go to exploit such businesses for personal gain. The legal proceedings and subsequent convictions in this case underscore the efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system to bring justice to the victims of violent crimes.
