Teens accused of murdering cab driver in planned robbery

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has arrested three teenagers in connection with the murder of cab driver Melvin Wright, 62.

According to Lt. Steven Gallaher, during interviews detectives uncovered a plot concocted by the three suspects to call a taxi company then rob the driver when he arrived. Police tracked down the trio by tracing the cell phone used to request a cab with the taxi company.

Gallaher said the cell phone was linked to 15-year-old Tionne Williams who lived at the Panama Youth Services Center less than a block away from the crime scene. Another suspect, 17-year-old Tavione Williams also lived in the same center.

The third suspect 18-year-old Deron Brown Jr., who did not live at the youth center, fled to South Florida and turned himself into authorities in Broward County on Feb. 2. JSO said he was 17-years-old during the time of the crime.

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“Deron was to approach the driver with his .22 caliber rifle, Tionne was to take the money and Tavione was to distract the driver at the same time by getting in the back seat acting as if it was a real fare,” said Gallaher.

According to Gallaher, Brown Jr. organized the plan and got Tionne and Tavione Williams to help carry it out. Investigators said that when Wright arrived Brown Jr. shot him in the chest and everyone fled the scene.

Wright was found inside his cab on Bloxham Avenue and 61st Street and died at UF Health later that night.

According to the Panama Youth Services Center’s CEO, Willie Green, Brown Jr. was known to them.

“We had a couple of issues with him a few months ago, he was coming trying to get kids to go out and sell things in the neighborhood,” said Green.

Green said Brown Jr. was not allowed to enter the facility and the 14 boys living in the center had been warned to stay away from him.

According to Green, the teens who live at the youth center aren’t surveilled 24/7, as long as they don’t break curfew they can leave the center. He said Tavione and Tionne Williams had not broken curfew when they were allegedly committing a crime before 10 p.m.

“It was an absolute tragedy I'm heartbroken about the incident,” said Green.

All three teenagers are being charged with murder and armed robbery.

Action News Jax asked the state attorney’s office if they’ll be charged as adults but a spokesperson said the cases are still under review.

Cox Media Group