On May 12, 2025, a tragic sequence of events in Lakeland, Florida's Secret Cove neighborhood resulted in two deaths, including that of 19-year-old Davin Boutwell. The incident began around 1:26 PM when Boutwell drove his white Mercedes into the area for what appeared to be a drug transaction. Upon arrival, he stopped near the intersection of Ned Engle Boulevard and Pirates Way, where he was approached by several teenagers.
During what was revealed to be an attempted robbery, Boutwell was
fatally shot through the chest. After being shot, he accelerated at high speed down Pirates Way, striking and killing an innocent bystander, 38-year-old Nathaniel Jones Jr., who was riding an electric bicycle. Boutwell's vehicle then crashed through the front wall of a residence, coming to rest fully within a bedroom. First responders discovered Boutwell had a distinctive tattoo reading "Life is a gamble" from the movie "Scarface" across his chest. Inside his vehicle, investigators found two gallon-sized bags of marijuana and a substantial amount of cash.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office made swift arrests in the case, taking six individuals into custody. The alleged mastermind was identified as 23-year-old Kristian Xavier Guzman, who reportedly planned the robbery after previously purchasing marijuana from Boutwell. Guzman specifically recruited minors for the crime, believing they would receive lighter sentences if caught.
Four primary suspects were charged with two counts of first-degree murder: Alexander Zarion Colon-Martinez David Yule Jr. Anthony Scott Roush and Kristian Xavier Guzman. During the attempted robbery, Colon-Martinez carried a 9mm handgun, Roush had an AR-15, and Yule possessed a shotgun. According to investigators, Colon-Martinez was the one who fatally shot Boutwell.
Two additional suspects, Jessica M. Chambers and Isabella Brooke Farley were charged as accessories to the crime. They were present in a silver Nissan Altima that was intended to serve as the getaway vehicle, along with Guzman's young children. The suspects face various additional charges including attempted armed robbery, conspiracy, child abuse, and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
While investigators recovered a shotgun hidden behind a convenience store dumpster, the firearm used to shoot Boutwell has not been recovered. The case highlighted what Sheriff Grady Judd described as a "deadly cocktail" of teenagers, guns, and drugs, leading to what he termed a "thug robbery gone bad."
