MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that charges had been upgraded for two suspects who deputies said were involved in a shooting that left three dead and five others injured outside a hookah lounge near Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus back in 2021.
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James Albert Johnson III, 22, was re-arrested on a warrant Thursday and now faces charges of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted premeditated murder, according to authorities.
Investigators said he had previously been arrested on drug charges related to the case.
In April 2023, authorities also announced the arrests of four other men connected to the case:
- Willie Lee Thomas III, then 18
- Melchelzadek Jacory Matthews, then 20
- Jeremy Emmanuel Devine, then 20
- Aaron Joseph Clermont, then 20
The shooting occurred around 2:20 a.m. on June 6, 2021, when a group of people was gathered outside the hookah lounge at Southwest 109th Court and 107th Street.
Authorities said the suspects drove up and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
The attack left three people dead, including Florida Department of Corrections Officer Tyleisha Taylor, and five others wounded.
Police said one of the victims, William Everett, was a father of a 3-year-old boy.
Authorities said Everett was killed alongside his 18-year-old cousin, identified by relatives as “Kheen.”
Both were inside a bullet-riddled car that crashed into a wall at Miami Dade College, according to investigators.
Johnson was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Thursday and is set to appear in Miami-Dade bond court on Friday.
His re-arrest marks the third incarceration among the five suspects tied to the shooting.
Deputies confirmed that Clermont, now 22, also faces upgraded charges for his alleged role in the shooting, however his exact charges have not yet been disclosed.
Authorities said Clermont had initially been arrested on unrelated charges that included possession of a short-barrel shotgun or machine gun and possession of a controlled substance while armed.
According to police, Clermont was also found in possession of stolen credit and debit cards during his initial arrest.
Investigators say the victims were leaving a graduation party when the drive-by shooting occurred.
The motive remains unclear at this time.
As of Friday, Johnson remains in custody at TGK without bond, while bond information for Clermont has not yet been disclosed.