Two men sought in North Lakeland shooting that killed two people, including 3-year-old

Lakeland police are turning to the public for help finding two men involved in the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old boy earlier this week.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor said the police have identified three men involved in the Cambridge Cove Circle shooting Monday evening that killed Jaquez Norton. In addition to the deceased Kemarious Wilson, police have identified and obtained arrest warrants for 22-year-old Demarius Wilson and 30-year-old Kavarius Green.

"We are certainly looking for these two guys," the police chief said. "We do not know as of this date where they are, and we need the public's help in helping us identify these two individuals. We very much want to get both of these individuals off the street."

Surveillance video obtained by LPD shows a white 2014 Dodge Challenger blocked in the 2023 Toyota RAV4 driven by 21-year-old Yeimarie Baez, Jaquez's mother, about 6:30 p.m. Monday on Cambridge Cove Circle. Two men came out of the passenger side of the Challenger. Taylor said those men were later identified as Kemarious Wilson and Kevarius Green.

Wilson approached the RAV4's driver door, where Baez was seated, Taylor said, with a 9mm handgun drawn. Wilson then ran around to the back of the vehicle.

Green exited the Challenger holding a .223-caliber rifle, according to police, and approached the passenger side of the vehicle. At some point, Taylor said shots were exchanged between Green and the Toyota's male passenger, 23-year-old Robert Einzig.

When gunfire erupted, Taylor said Baez grabbed her 3-month-old daughter from the back seat and fled from the RAV4.

Green fired multiple rounds with the rifle through the windshield of the RAV4, according to Taylor. Wilson ran from the back of the victim's vehicle, around a parked car and back toward the Challenger.

Green got back into the passenger side of the Challenger, followed by Wilson. Taylor said Green appeared injured at this point, as his foot can be seen hanging out the vehicle's door as it left the apartment complex and drove southbound on Kathleen Road.

The 10th District Medical Examiner's Office has determined Jaquez Norton and Kemarious Wilson were both fatally struck by .223-caliber bullets fired by Green.

Lakeland police have obtained an arrest warranted for Green charging him with two felony counts of first-degree murder, a second-degree felony count of shooting into an occupied vehicle, and one count of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon, which is a life felony for firing at Einzig.

Taylor said he thinks Demarius Wilson was the driver of the Challenger. He said police have evidence showing Demarius Wilson was at the West 14th Street home, where he told his uncle that Kemarious Wilson had been shot and helped load his brother into another vehicle to be taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.

Demarius Wilson was also seen in the Challenger with his brother, Kemarious, shortly before the shooting, according to Taylor. There is evidence that shows Demarius Wilson running from the Challenger after it was parked between two residential homes and covered with a black tarp on the 800 block of West Crawford Street.

Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Demarius Wilson, who is charged with one third-degree felony count of tampering with evidence. Wilson is currently on federal pre-trial release facing charges of wire fraud.

Lakeland police still do not know the motive for the shooting, Taylor said, but have no evidence to suggest it's gang related.

Anyone knows where Green or Demarius Wilson can be found is asked to contact Lakeland Det. Cory Lawson at 863-834-8975 or email [email protected].

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Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers by calling 800-226-TIPS (800-226-8477) or online at www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. Anonymous tips can be texted using the free "P3tips" app. There is a $5,000 reward for information that leads an arrest.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at [email protected] or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Two men sought in North Lakeland shooting that killed 3-year-old boy