2 more accused in 7-year-old’s murder plead not guilty

6 facing charges in fatal shooting of Breon Allen Jr. in January

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two more of the teens charged in the deadly shooting of Jacksonville 7-year-old Breon Allen Jr. in January pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.

Keith Fields, 18, will be back in court on May 7, and Donte McGhee, 17, will be back in court on May 8.

Both are facing charges of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, along with 24-year-old Zharod Sykes, 20-year-old Dannel Larkins, 21-year-old Keith Johnson and 17-year-old Tavaris Kelly.

Police said McGhee and Kelly were the ones who pulled the trigger in the deadly January shooting, which also seriously injured Breon’s cousin, Lafayette Mango Jr., 21.

JSO said 18-year-old Keith Fields, 20-year-old Dannel Larkins, 21-year-old Keith Johnson, and 24-year-old Zharod Sykes are facing several charges in connection with the shooting that killed Breon Allen Jr. and seriously injured his cousin, Lafayette Mango Jr., 21. (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.)

All six defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Sykes was ordered to return to court on April 28, Dannel Larkins will be back in court on April 29, Johnson will be back in court on May 1 and Kelly’s next court date is May 6.

Johnson is also facing charges in two unrelated cases.

RELATED: First Coast Crime Stoppers tip leads to arrest of 2 accused in shooting death of 7-year-old; group set to pay out $25K

“It’s very gratifying to be able to at least give mom, not necessarily any closure, because you don’t ever close up a moment like this, but to give mom something to rest on, knowing that she has her agency and her city standing behind her,” Waters said.

RELATED | ‘He was a very happy child’: Mother of 7-year-old boy killed in shooting on Jacksonville’s Westside speaks out

News4JAX spoke to the child’s mom, who identified him as 7-year-old Breon Allen. She said the two were on the way to the corner store when the shots rang out. (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.)

Waters said the shooting was “a targeted, planned act of bloodshed,” adding that it was gang-affiliated.

According to the arrest warrants for Fields, Larkins, Johnson and Sykes, the suspects were members or associates of 6 block and the shooting that took Allen’s life “was motivated with the purpose to benefit, promote, and/or further the interest of the criminal gang.”

Police said Mango is a rapper and documented associate of the criminal gang “ATK.” ATK is one of the rival gangs to 6 block, JSO said, and the ongoing feud between the two gangs led to the shooting death of Charles Jones, a popular Jacksonville rapper known as “Julio Foolio,” last year.

Jones was a prominent member of 6 block and all five of the people accused in Jones’ ambush murder in Tampa have connections to either ATK or 1200, another rival gang, according to JSO.

 The feud between 6 block and its rival gangs ATK and 1200 has spanned over a decade, with dozens of murders by and against both sides, JSO has said.

Following the death of Jones in June 2024, investigators said Mango released a song titled “6 Ways To Die” featuring another rapper who is also affiliated with ATK.

MORE | Shooting that killed 7-year-old Breon Allen connected to rap song, warring Jacksonville gangs ATK, 6 block: warrants

In the song, investigators said Mango “disses” multiple 6 block members who have died, including Foolio, Lawrence Davis, 21, and Adrian McKinzie, 16, who were murdered in 2018 and 2023, respectively. There is also a reference to Julian House, who was murdered in 2023 after he reportedly left a recording studio.

Investigators said cellphone location data placed the men accused in Breon’s death at the scene of the shooting as well as near the scene where a black Kia, believed to be used as the getaway car, was later found.

Investigators searched the black Kia where they found a match to the spent rifle casings found at the scene.

Breon’s parents, Casheena Love and Breon Allen Sr., said they were surprised to learn there were six arrests made in connection with their son’s murder, and they were even more surprised to learn their ages.

MORE | ‘Keep my son’s name alive’: Breon Allen’s mother says she’s thankful to see justice after arrests made in his murder

“They all kids, haven’t even experienced life yet. That’s what’s crazy. Who could even talk to them to want to do something like that? There is so much more to do than hanging and shooting and hurting,” Love said.

Watch Breon’s parents’ full reaction after learning of the two new arrests in the video below

Waters said all the people believed to be involved in the shooting are now behind bars.

“Our agency will continue to work with our partners at the State Attorney’s Office to ensure that the six arrests will be held accountable and receive the punishment that they rightfully deserve,” Waters said.


About the Authors
Briana Brownlee headshot

Briana Brownlee is excited to call Jacksonville home and join the News4JAX team. She joins us from Southwest Florida, where she reported at Fox 4 News in Fort Myers. Before making it to the Sunshine state, she got her start in Rapid City South Dakota as the morning reporter and later transitioned into the weekend Sports Anchor.

Francine Frazier headshot

A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union.

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