Two Men Arrested on Murder Charges in Miami-Dade County – What is the Maximum Penalty for Second-Degree Murder in Miami?

Two men have been arrested in Miami-Dade County after a shooting in which one person died, and another was seriously injured. According to local news reports, 31-year-old Andrew Riley and 20-year-old John Lockey were arrested on second-degree murder and other serious criminal charges for their alleged role in a December 22 shooting in which another Miami man was killed. The original incident was reported to have occurred on that fateful day last December in the area of the 26000 block of Southwest 138th Court in Miami. 37-year-old JD Jones Jr. was shot when the suspects first arrived in the area, and the second victim, who has not yet been identified to the public, was shot as he attempted to flee the scene. The second victim “pretended to be dead” after the two suspects forced him into a car and then shot him in the back of the head. JD Jones Jr. and the second victim had been “hanging out” in the area when the two suspects allegedly approached them and then shot them. The second victim was able to drive the vehicle that the suspects had allegedly initially forced him into, after the suspects abandoned it. The victim drove to a nearby gas station and was able to get help.

Later, the second victim who survived the shooting attack was able to identify the two suspects and said that he knew them. Witnesses were also reported to have been able to corroborate the victim’s story. Riley and Lockey were located using cell phone records and they were arrested by Miami-Dade police. The two now face serious criminal charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence. The case is ongoing and it remains to be seen whether either suspect will be criminally convicted, and if either young man will face any jail time.

Second-Degree Murder Carries Hefty Penalty under Florida Criminal Laws 

There is no doubt that a second-degree murder conviction carries with it a potentially very hefty penalty, if a criminal defendant is convicted. Under Florida criminal laws, “The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual, is murder in the second degree and constitutes a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life….”

If you were charged with criminal charges in Miami and you need legal help fighting the charges against you, contact the experienced Miami criminal attorneys at AsiliA Law Firm. The experienced Miami criminal attorneys at AsiliA Law Firm are here to help those who have been charged with serious criminal offenses in Miami get justice. Contact AsiliA Law Firm today and speak to a Miami lawyer about your case now.

Source:

local10.com/news/local/2025/02/04/deputies-arrest-2-suspects-on-murder-charges-for-miami-fatal-shooting/