Key West businessman accused of murdering 21-year-old will be released on bond

Prosecutors argue heā€™s still ā€˜a danger and a threat to the communityā€™

KEY WEST, Fla. ā€“ Businessman Lloyd Preston Brewer III, accused of murdering former high school football player Garrett Hughes outside a Key West liquor store in 2023, will be getting out of jail.

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Monroe County Judge Mark Jones ordered Friday that Brewer, 59, can be released on a $3 million bond. Heā€™ll have to submit to electronic monitoring, complete house arrest and travel restrictions, and is not permitted to have any contact with the victimā€™s family.

He also must surrender any firearms and his passport.

The state had asked for a $10 million bond.

ā€œThe state still maintains this murderer is a danger and a threat to the community and is a flight risk,ā€ Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said.

Prosecutors allege that Brewer, then 57, shot and killed Hughes just before 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, 2023 after confronting the shirtless and unarmed 21-year-old for urinating behind Conch Town Liquor & Lounge at 3340 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

The bar is a tenant of a multi-storefront building at the Searstown shopping center owned by Brewer and his family.

Brewer, who has spent more than two years behind bars since the shooting, tried to claim self-defense following the shooting, but prosecutors said video evidence contradicted that claim.

In interrogation footage obtained by Local 10 News, Brewer told Key West police detectives: ā€œI stood my ground.ā€

However, court records show that Jones later denied Brewerā€™s self-defense claim on Feb. 12.

Monroe County court records show a pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 10.


About the Authors
Janine Stanwood headshot

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

Chris Gothner headshot

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

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