Christopher Rashad Ramos, a 26-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on March 8, 2019, in Sarasota, Florida. The incident occurred in the 2100 block of Banneker Way, where Ramos was found dead inside a home with multiple gunshot wounds. The Sarasota County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and discovered Ramos in the front bedroom with 9mm shell casings lying on the floor near his body. Initially, the Sheriff's Office did not classify the death as a homicide, but it was later determined to be a murder.
The investigation into Ramos's death led to the arrest of three suspects: Davion Lee, Sean Thomas, and Charron Xavier Demarquis Martin. Davion Lee, who was 16 years old at the time of the crime, and Sean Thomas, aged 24, were both convicted of felony murder in the first degree, armed burglary of a dwelling, and robbery with a firearm. During the trial, it was revealed that the suspects had accessed health data and GPS coordinates from an iPhone XR seized during an unrelated arrest, which helped link them to the crime scene.
Lee and Thomas were sentenced in September 2022. Lee received a 35-year prison sentence for the three counts, along with an additional five years for violation of probation, to be served concurrently. Since Lee was a minor at the time of the crime, his sentence will be reviewed in 15 years to determine if he will be released or continue serving his sentence. Thomas, on the other hand, was sentenced to life in prison on all three counts. Both were credited with time served in the Sarasota County Jail.
Charron Xavier Demarquis Martin, the third suspect, initially denied any involvement in the case. However, during the trial, he testified against Lee and Thomas, admitting to his role in the crime. Martin was adjudicated guilty in November 2022 for armed burglary of an occupied dwelling with a firearm with assault or battery and principal to robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. His punishment included time served and 15 years of probation.
The trial revealed that the shooting was supposed to be a robbery gone wrong. Martin fled to Philadelphia hours after the murder but was arrested in December 2019 after returning to Florida. During his testimony, Martin admitted to lying to police previously but decided to tell the truth after praying about it in jail. The defense tried to impeach Martin during his testimony, but he maintained his account of the events.
The sentencing of Lee and Thomas aimed to provide some semblance of justice for the victim's family and to serve as a deterrent for future crimes. Assistant State Attorney Art Jackman emphasized the goal of punishment and protecting society with the sentences given. The case highlighted the use of modern technology, such as health apps and GPS data, in solving crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.
