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Bond hearing rescheduled in murder case of 16-year-old girl

Tavyiah King, 16, shot and killed near Orlando gas station

ORLANDO, Fla. – A bond hearing for one of two suspects charged in a 16-year-old girl’s murder at an Orlando gas station in early May has been rescheduled.

Jacarious Simpson, 18, was set to face an Orange County judge on Wednesday but the hearing was canceled and rescheduled for July 9 at 11 a.m.

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Simpson is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 16-year-old Tavyiah King, the niece of Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill.

Investigators said King was shot and killed on May 2 near the Wawa gas station on Silver Star Road and John Young Parkway. King’s mom, Alisha Rodriguez, said the teen was leaving a party with friends, riding in a car when somehow it came under fire. Rodriguez said her daughter was not the intended target.

New court documents show two friends were still with King when she was found by an officer. The driver of the car she was in, identified as Tamarcus King, pulled her out of the car and took off because he didn’t want to get in trouble, according to the documents.

Simpson is also facing four counts of attempted murder, but according to court documents, he said he should be out on bond because he’s lived in the Central Florida area his whole life and has a full scholarship to the University of West Virginia.

Prosecutors also announced Anthony Barnes, 17, is being charged as an adult in the case.

Anthony “Ant” Barnes, 17 (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

The court documents reveal evidence shows Simpson and Barnes both had guns at the Wawa the morning of the deadly shooting, though investigators believe more people are involved in the case.

According to an arrest affidavit, both Simpson and Barnes were seen in the same vehicle, a white Toyota Camry, that night as well as at the same party the 16-year-old girl was at on Edgewater Drive.

The documents also mention Jeremiah Woods, who was seen shooting at Wawa from the back passenger seat in the Camry, though he has not been arrested in the case. According to the affidavit, Simpson told detectives Woods “had been sent to New York City by his mother.”

Barnes is facing second-degree murder with a firearm and is being held on no bond. He has an arraignment set for July 12.


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