PALM BAY, Fla. – In the next two weeks, a young man will learn if he could spend the rest of his life in prison for the murders of two teenagers on Christmas Day 2022.
On Friday, Jamarcus Simpson had a chance to avoid trial and only face up to 20 years of prison time.
The 18-year-old turned down that offer because his attorney said the other suspect in the murders, a 17-year-old, was the one who shot Travon Anthony and Jeremiah Brown in Palm Bay’s Compound.
The tragedy started a debate about finding solutions to the undeveloped neighborhood.
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Two other homicide investigations are ongoing there since the Christmas 2022 murders shocked the city.
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Fifteen months later, as the trial begins for one of the accused killers, Palm Bay is finishing its study on what to do with the blighted part of town.
Former Palm Bay city council candidate Thomas Gaume can drive through the Compound and point out where other murders, overdoses, and off-roading accidents have happened over the years.
“A lot of them are marked with tribute markers to different people that have passed away out here,” Gaume said. “People put up the markers, and other people come out here to look at them. It’s kind of a vicious circle.”
When city staff present the development study to the council in April, Gaume said he’s hoping to hear solutions.
“I’m hoping they come out and they have some short-term objectives, and then a long-term goal,” he said. “The long-term goal, obviously, has to do with some type of development, whatever they decide that is. But something needs to be done in the short term because we can’t just keep counting people. People matter.”
People who came out to a meeting about the Compound a year ago suggested building an ATV park, a community center, or even a theme park.
On Monday, jury selection began in Jamarcus Simpson’s trial.
That means opening arguments from attorneys could start on Tuesday.
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