On February 21, 2024, 19-year-old Jeanariun St. Fort was fatally shot at the Lake Mangonia Apartments in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incident occurred in the 1100 block of Australian Avenue, where officers responded to a report of gunfire. Despite efforts to save him, St. Fort was rushed to the hospital and died shortly before midnight.
The investigation led by the West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) identified two suspects involved in the shooting.
The first suspect, Demario Jones, was arrested on Monday following the incident. Surveillance video showed Jones, who was wearing a gray sweatshirt, fleeing the scene and later identified him as one of the shooters. Jones' fingerprints were found on a silver Ford Escape, which was also captured on surveillance video. During questioning, Jones admitted to being at the scene but claimed he did not shoot St. Fort, despite video evidence indicating otherwise.
The second suspect, Terneal Smith, 21, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder. The key evidence leading to Smith's capture included a lost cellphone and a black-and-white sandal dropped at the scene. A forensic examination of the cellphone revealed a six-digit PIN, which matched the PIN on another phone found in Smith's possession when he was arrested. Additionally, a photo on the phone showed Smith wearing the same unique black-and-white sandals and a black hooded sweatshirt seen in the surveillance video.
Both suspects, Demario Jones and Terneal Smith, face first-degree murder charges. Jones was denied bond and ordered not to have any contact with the victim's family and friends. Smith did not appear for his initial court hearing and was also ordered to be held without bond. He is scheduled to return to court on April 1.
The community at Lake Mangonia Apartments expressed relief and a sense of security following the arrests, highlighting the need for a safe living environment, especially for families and elderly residents. The West Palm Beach Police Department has vowed to continue disrupting criminal activities in the area, which has seen multiple violent incidents recently, including another fatal shooting last month.
