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2 Teens Arrested After Man Trying To Sell Dirt Bike Murdered
RAMONTRAE WILLIAMS ... Charged with first-degree murder
Tampa Police have ar- rested two teenagers and charged them with first-de- gree murder. They are ac- cused of killing a man trying to sell a dirt bike on Craig’s- list.
According to police, 44- year-old James Beck, of Holiday, and his 15-year-old son arranged to meet with the suspects in an attempt to sell a dirt bike to them. They arranged the meeting
DONTAE JOHNSON ... Charged with first-degree murder
via Craig’slist. Beck’s son had posted
the notice on Craig’slist to sell the dirt bike. After sev- eral communications, they arranged to meet a buyer in Tampa.
Beck and his son trav- eled to Tampa with the dirt bike in the bed of their truck. The father and son met the suspects shortly after 7 p.m., Tuesday, at the intersection N. 18th Street
JAMES BECK ... Murder Victim
and E. 24th Avenue. Detectives said when it
became clear that the sus- pects planned to rob Beck and his son, they attempted to leave. Dontae John- son, 17, allegedly shot Beck and 16-year-old Ra- montrae Williams took the dirt bike from the bed of the truck. Both fled the scene.
Beck died as a result of his injuries.
This is the dirt bike the Becks posted on Craig’s List. It was re- covered near the residence of one of the suspects Tuesday.
Detectives identified Ro- mantrae Williams as one of the suspects. He was ar- rested late Tuesday night. They also recovered the dirt bike near his residence. Williams was charged with first-degree felony murder and armed robbery.
Detectives quickly identi- fied Johnson as the second suspect and arrested him late Wednesday night. Johnson was charged with
first-degree felony murder, armed robbery, and dis- charging a firearm in public.
According to sources, Williams was well known in the neighborhood where he lived. He often repaired bicycles for residents in the area.
Johnson’s mother had been trying to find a mentor for him prior to the incident because he refused to go to school.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A