Florida Man Accused of Ambush Shooting That Killed 15-Year-Old Girl Outside Seafood Restaurant, Deputies Say
COCOA, FLORIDA — Authorities in Brevard County say a 20-year-old man orchestrated a deadly ambush outside a local seafood restaurant, using his mother’s Apple Pay account to rent the getaway vehicle. The attack left 15-year-old Karyah Duncan dead and two teenage boys injured.
Jonterich “Dooda Black” Smith was arrested and charged with first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Another suspect, 20-year-old Xazavier Butler, remains at large.
Investigators Describe the Shooting as a “Planned Ambush”
The shooting took place around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 at Anchors Seafood and Chicken on Clearlake Road, just outside Cocoa. According to investigators, Duncan and two teenage boys were sitting in a white Toyota Corolla parked in front of the restaurant when the suspects arrived.
Moments earlier, Smith had entered the restaurant and “fanned money in front of his face” before leaving and entering a Dodge Durango. Minutes later, the SUV pulled up behind the Corolla, and multiple gunmen jumped out, using nearby vehicles as cover before opening fire on the teens inside the sedan.
The driver of the Corolla returned fire, but Duncan — sitting in the front passenger seat — was struck multiple times in the neck, chest, and arm. She was pronounced dead less than two hours later.
“This was an ambush,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, describing the attack as “a horrific, calculated assault on children.”
Evidence Found at Suspect’s Home
Investigators linked Smith to the crime through a nickname mentioned by one of the surviving victims. During a recorded interview, a male victim said he recognized one of the shooters as “Dooda Black.”
Police later confirmed that alias belonged to Smith, who was traced to the rental of the Dodge Durango used in the attack. According to the arrest affidavit, Smith paid for the rental using his mother’s Apple Pay account.
When deputies searched his mother’s home, they found the Durango parked in the backyard, partially hidden under a tarp, with bullet holes and shattered glass visible. Officers also found .223 ammunition in Smith’s bedroom and evidence of a burned pile of clothing in a nearby shed, suggesting an attempt to destroy evidence.
Arrest and Ongoing Search for Second Suspect
Smith was arrested about a week later in Volusia County following a traffic stop and transferred to the Brevard County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
During a press conference, Sheriff Ivey condemned Smith as a “monster” who “executed a child” and warned fugitive suspect Xazavier Butler to surrender.
“Today, instead of walking in an animal abuser, I’m walking in an animal — a monster that killed a 15-year-old girl,” Ivey said. “He can spend the rest of his life locked up and think about what he did. It was an ambush, plain and simple.”
Butler faces identical charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, and deputies have urged him to turn himself in.
Smith appeared in court on Tuesday and is scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 6. Meanwhile, Duncan’s family and community members have described her as a vibrant and loving teenager whose life was cut short by senseless violence.
As Brevard County investigators continue their manhunt for Butler, local officials are calling for an end to the surge in youth-involved gun violence. For continued updates on this case and breaking crime news across Florida, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.