Lakendra Jones, an 18-year-old resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, tragically lost her life on February 1, 2015. She was found shot in the 700 block of Northwest 3rd Avenue and was subsequently taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. The circumstances surrounding her death were initially unclear, prompting a thorough investigation by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
The investigation led to the arrest of two individuals: Harveitz Beaubrun, 19,
and Martelli Metellus, 24. Beaubrun was charged with murder, while Metellus faced charges of accessory after the fact of murder. The arrests were made on April 11, 2015, by the Fort Lauderdale Police Homicide Unit and Career Criminal Unit, in collaboration with the US Marshals South Florida Fugitive Task Force. Both suspects were apprehended in Riviera Beach and remained in custody without bond.
Details from the investigation revealed that on the night of the incident, Jones had been in the company of Beaubrun, Metellus, and another individual named Lintidra Scott. A neighbor reported hearing a gunshot from the direction of Beaubrun's apartment and witnessed Beaubrun and Metellus carrying Jones' body outside. They placed her on the grass, and Beaubrun was seen discarding a shotgun over a fence. He also handed another firearm to a third person who then fled the scene. Beaubrun initially claimed that Jones had been shot while returning from a convenience store, but evidence, including a significant amount of blood found in his apartment, contradicted his account.
Further complicating Beaubrun's situation was his criminal history. At the age of 12, he had been involved in the death of his 17-month-old cousin, for which he had pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and was sentenced to a therapeutic treatment program followed by probation. This prior incident cast a shadow over his character and raised questions about his rehabilitation.
The case against Beaubrun and Metellus proceeded through the legal system, with both men facing serious charges related to Jones' death. The tragic loss of Lakendra Jones highlighted issues of violence and the challenges of ensuring justice for victims and their families. The community of Fort Lauderdale mourned her untimely death, and the legal proceedings aimed to bring closure to a deeply affected family and community.
