JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has made the 10th and final arrest in connection with the murder of a 14-year-old boy on New Year’s Day in 2024.
Quanterria Bennett, 18, was arrested on Friday and charged with armed robbery and second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 14-year-old Micah Thomas, according to JSO.
In the evening of Jan. 1, 2024, police responded to a report of a home invasion robbery. As they were responding, officers received an update in their call for service stating a shooting had happened two houses southeast of the robbery incident, according to Bennett’s arrest report.
When they arrived at the home on Castle Boulevard in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood, officers found Thomas lying near the home’s doorway, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Thomas died at the hospital.
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JSO’s investigation initially identified nine different suspects in Thomas’ murder.
According to the arrest report, all of the suspects were together on New Year’s Day at Lamaya Gillis’ house. Then, three of them got into a burgundy/red vehicle, driven by an unknown woman, and three more got into a black sedan driven by another woman.
The two cars parked in front of the “target” house, according to police.
What happened next is redacted in the arrest report, but police say the suspects eventually returned to Gillis’ home.
Police later identified Bennett as the woman who was driving the burgundy vehicle— and the 10th and final suspect in the murder case.
The first three arrests took place six months after the incident.
A 16-year-old and Isaiah Conner, 23, were arrested and charged with Thomas’ murder. Gillis, 20, was charged with accessory after the fact in Thomas’ murder.
On April 1, JSO announced the arrest of 24-year-old Emanuel Cuff, who was already in custody on unrelated charges. He was also charged with murder and armed robbery.
News4JAX spoke with Thomas’ mother after learning about the final arrest.
“My family and I would like to thank Detective Henry Rivers for his incredible dedication, hard work and relentless pursuit of justice for my son, Micah Thomas’ case. Your effort led to 10 arrests, and we’re truly grateful,” she told News4JAX.
Several suspects, including Bennett, are being held in Duval County jail without bond.
Bennett’s next court date was set for Aug. 4 at 9 a.m.